Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Space manufacturing is vital for reducing Earth dependence and enabling long-term missions. • Chemical and biological nano/micro/meso-scale manufacturing enable in-situ resource utilization. • Emerging technologies like synthetic biology and AI address challenges of microgravity and extreme conditions. • The review covers advances across orbital stations, Moon, Mars, and asteroids, highlighting key innovations and limitations.
Abstract
Space exploration and manufacturing are of critical importance for scientific advancement, technological innovation, national security, and the acquisition of extraterrestrial resources. In view of this, chemical and biological nano-/micro-/meso-scale manufacturing provide complementary approaches to overcome key space exploration challenges by enabling the in-situ production of essential life-support materials, propellants, and other resources. This review examines the origin and historical evolution of space manufacturing and the latest advances across different environments—from orbital space stations and the lunar surface to Mars and asteroids. It is structured to present the current state of research, outline key manufacturing strategies and technologies, assess the technical and environmental challenges, and discuss emerging trends and future directions. Besides, the potential applications of emerging technologies such as synthetic biology and artificial intelligence in overcoming the limitations of microgravity, limited resources, and extreme conditions are discussed. Ultimately, this integrative review could serve to guide future development, from advancing space science and disruptive manufacturing to enabling interdisciplinary and application-level innovations.
1. Introduction
Space exploration is a key activity for mankind to expand the boundaries of its existence, which allows humans to explore the mysteries of the universe. This exploration helps mankind gain a deeper understanding of the origin and evolution of the universe. Also, it opens up new ways of thinking about how to solve Earth’s problems related to resources, the environment, and other challenges [1, 2]. In addition, a wide range of valuable materials that are rare or practically nonexistent on Earth, such as specific metals and minerals, can be found through space exploration [3–5]. For example, the Moon contains Helium-3, titanium, and various silicates, while Mars holds calcium carbonate in its soil, and large quantities of minerals like Fe2O3, SiO2, and sulfur oxides [6–12]. These materials have significant potential for use in energy production, construction, and manufacturing.
As the core support for space exploration, space manufacturing plays an indispensable role in reducing dependence on Earth’s material supply and lowering the cost and risk of space missions. This is essential for the long-term sustainability of space exploration.
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Qingyao Jiang, Bin Wang, Yifan Cheng, Yiming Wang, Hongxin Zhao, Yuan Lu (2026). Emerging Chemical and Biological Materials Technologies in the Extraplanetary Environment. Nano-Micro Letters. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01979-8
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of chemical and biological manufacturing in space?
These manufacturing approaches enable in-situ production of essential materials, propellants, and life-support resources, reducing dependence on Earth and lowering mission costs and risks.
What environments are covered in this review?
The review covers manufacturing advances across orbital space stations, the lunar surface, Mars, and asteroids.
How do synthetic biology and AI contribute to space manufacturing?
Synthetic biology can engineer organisms to produce materials and recycle resources, while AI optimizes processes and adapts to extreme conditions, overcoming limitations of microgravity and resource scarcity.
What are the key challenges addressed in the review?
The review assesses technical and environmental challenges such as microgravity, limited resources, and extreme conditions, and discusses emerging trends to overcome them.
What is the publication venue and year?
The paper is published in Nano-Micro Letters, with an expected publication year of 2026.
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