SpaceFactory
SpaceFactory, based in Tanner, Alabama, builds robotic additive manufacturing and in-situ resource utilization systems for lunar, Martian, and expeditionary defense environments, serving NASA, defense agencies, and industrial manufacturers through government contracts and equipment sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersTanner, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SpaceFactory does
SpaceFactory (formerly AI SpaceFactory), founded in February 2017 and headquartered in Tanner, Alabama, is a private B2B technology company developing robotic construction and additive manufacturing systems for extreme environments on Earth and in space. The company's technology platform combines large-scale pellet-based extrusion, ABB robotic arms and gantry systems, and proprietary software (PHOBOS operating system, Ropedancer transcoder) to produce the ASTRA robotic-arm 3D printer and the Starforge T200 large-format gantry printer. Its space-focused portfolio includes LITHOS-1 (a near-term lunar regolith processing payload targeted at the Astrobotic CubeRover), MARSHA (Mars habitat design), LINA (lunar south pole radiation-shielded outpost), and patent-pending materials including basalt-fiber/biopolymer composites and geogrid-reinforced regolith infrastructure. The company has demonstrated first-of-kind capabilities such as 3D printing in -200°C vacuum with NASA Kennedy Space Center and building the first lunar road in simulated space conditions with Michigan Technological University.
The business model is hybrid and project-driven. SpaceFactory generates revenue through NASA research contracts (ACO partnership, STTR Phase 1 grants, Centennial Challenge winnings), sales of terrestrial additive manufacturing equipment (ASTRA, Starforge T200) to industrial and architectural customers, and a stated pipeline of technology licensing and consulting for space and defense applications. Pricing is quote-based across all streams and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is direct enterprise and government sales, with long sales cycles aligned to NASA and defense procurement timelines.
SpaceFactory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SpaceFactory
- Legal name
- SpaceFactory
- Website
- https://spacefactory.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SpaceFactory, based in Tanner, Alabama, builds robotic additive manufacturing and in-situ resource utilization systems for lunar, Martian, and expeditionary defense environments, serving NASA, defense agencies, and industrial manufacturers through government contracts and equipment sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SpaceFactory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial 3D Printing Systems
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH), Architecture, Construction & Concrete 3D Printing Services (IMAAADAJ)
Keywords
Where SpaceFactory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tanner
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SpaceFactory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Research Contracts: SpaceFactory derives revenue through NASA and defense research contracts, including the ACO partnership, STTR Phase 1 grants, and technology development agreements. These are typically multi-year, fixed-price or cost-plus contracts.
- Commercial Additive Manufacturing Equipment Sales: Sale of ASTRA and STARFORGE 3D printing systems to industrial and research customers. Revenue from hardware sales, software licenses, and associated support services.
- Technology Licensing and Consulting: Potential revenue from licensing proprietary technologies and providing consulting services for space and defense applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SpaceFactory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SpaceFactory develops and sells large-format robotic 3D printing systems and proprietary space-construction technologies for extreme environments including lunar surface operations and expeditionary defense logistics. The company manufactures the ASTRA robotic-arm 3D printer and the Starforge T200 large-format gantry printer for industrial customers, while developing patent-pending lunar payloads (LITHOS-1), space-rated 3D printing technology, biopolymer composite materials, and regolith-processing systems through NASA partnerships. The commercial portfolio combines hardware sales with government research contracts and technology licensing.
Product overview
SpaceFactory offers a platform of robotic construction and additive manufacturing systems designed for extreme environments from Earth to space. The core portfolio includes: LITHOS-1 for lunar surface preparation; MARSHA, a vertical Mars habitat design; LINA for lunar radiation shielding; TERA for terrestrial analog testing; ASTRA, a robotic arm 3D printer for industrial use; and Starforge T200, a large-format gantry system. Supporting technologies include Mass Regolith Infrastructure (MRI) materials, ISRU formulations for space, and proprietary software (PHOBOS, Ropedancer). The systems share common foundations in autonomous robotics, in-situ resource utilization, and extreme-environment manufacturing developed through NASA partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LITHOS-1: Near-term technology demonstration payload designed to convert loose regolith into stable, load-bearing, reduced-dust surfaces for lunar surface usability.
- MARSHA
- LINA
- TERA
- ASTRA
- Starforge T200
Products and services
- ASTRA Robotic 3D Printer Full-stack robotic 3D printer combining an ABB IRB-6700 six-axis robotic arm with a pellet-based extrusion system for industrial and large-scale additive manufacturing. Features automated tool-path algorithms, RFID material tracking, drag-and-drop workflow, 90 lb/hr throughput, and a build envelope of 1200mm x 2400mm x 1200mm (ortho) or 300° / 3750mm radius (polar). Sold to industrial manufacturers, research institutions, and large-format part producers.
- Starforge T200 Large-Format Gantry 3D Printer Containerized large-format gantry-style 3D printer with 1000mm x 1000mm x 1600mm build volume, 3.4 kg/hr (7.5 lb/hr) throughput, and 200mm/s print velocity. Modular design ruggedized for expeditionary, remote, and industrial environments; produces intricate parts, prototypes, maritime components, and wind turbine blades.
- LITHOS-1 Lunar Regolith Processing Payload Patent-pending mechanized payload that processes lunar regolith into stable, load-bearing, reduced-dust surfaces in a single pass without chemical or thermal inputs. Weighs ~5kg, operates at 20W nominal power, and is adapted from terrestrial macadam paving techniques. Designed for integration on commercial lunar landers and rovers serving space agencies and NASA programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces launch mass and cost of lunar shelters by over 80%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SpaceFactory
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SpaceFactory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability1 record
Feature10 records
SpaceFactory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- AstroboticmajorPlanned integration of LITHOS-1 on Astrobotic's CubeRover 6U rover platform. LITHOS-1's flight-relevant form factor (approximately 5kg, 20W) aligns with near-term mass and power constraints enabling practical deployment on smaller commercial landers and rovers.
- Michigan Technological University (Husky Works)coreNASA-funded Phase 1 STTR partnership for developing lunar infrastructure technology. Successfully built and tested the first-ever lunar 'road' in simulated space environment replicating dusty vacuum conditions. Partnership combines SpaceFactory's construction expertise with MTU's Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab capabilities.
- NASA Kennedy Space Center (Swampworks)corePartnership under NASA's Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) program to co-develop lunar construction technologies. Successfully advanced lunar 3D print technology through vacuum chamber testing at temperatures as low as -200°C using regolith-polymer feedstock producible on the Moon. This represents SpaceFactory's flagship government partnership driving core technology development.
- Techmer PMmajorCollaboration to formulate innovative mixture of basalt fiber extracted from Martian rock and renewable bioplastic (PLA) for 3D printing Mars habitats. Material outperformed concrete in NASA testing and is central to SpaceFactory's space-grade construction technology.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SpaceFactory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Branch Technology: Branch Technology develops patented large-scale 3D printing for architectural and construction applications, using robotic arms analogous to ASTRA. Comparable in its bridging of digital fabrication and large-format construction, with overlapping industrial and architectural customer segments.
- VulcanForms: VulcanForms is a digital manufacturing company producing industrial additive manufacturing systems at scale, sharing the broader industrial 3D printing hardware category with SpaceFactory's Starforge T200. Represents a peer in commercializing large-format additive manufacturing for industrial customers.
- Astrobotic Technology: Astrobotic is a lunar logistics company developing CubeRover and lander platforms. SpaceFactory explicitly plans to integrate LITHOS-1 on Astrobotic's CubeRover 6U; Astrobotic is both a commercial partner and an indirect competitor for NASA lunar surface contract dollars in the same ACO cohort.
Broad incumbents
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is a prime defense contractor with significant space and NASA infrastructure programs, including habitat and surface system development. Comparable as a large incumbent SpaceFactory may compete against or partner with for major NASA/DOD lunar contracts.
- Relativity Space: Relativity Space uses large-scale additive manufacturing (Stargate 3D printers) to produce rocket components, sharing the broad technology base of large-format robotic metal/polymer printing. While positioned in launch rather than surface construction, it is a comparable large-format industrial 3D printing peer with NASA/Space Force relationships.
- Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a major aerospace prime with deep NASA and defense agency relationships, working on lunar surface systems and ISRU-adjacent technologies. Comparable as a potential prime contractor partner or competitor for government construction and infrastructure contracts.
Direct peers
- Apis Cor: Apis Cor builds large-format construction 3D printers and has completed full building prints, directly comparable to SpaceFactory's TERA and ASTRA terrestrial applications. Overlapping technology base (robotic/material extrusion at architectural scale) and shared NASA interest in additive construction for space habitats.
- Redwire Corporation: Redwire (which acquired Made In Space) develops in-space manufacturing, robotic assembly, and deployable structures for space applications. It is a direct competitor in space-based additive manufacturing and deployable space structures, and a peer in the NASA STTR/ACO ecosystem targeting lunar infrastructure.
- ICON: ICON is the closest direct competitor: a 3D-printed construction technology company with both terrestrial building solutions (Vulcan, COBOD-licensed systems) and a dedicated space program (Project Olympus) developing lunar regolith printing for NASA. Comparable in product category (large-format additive manufacturing), customer base (NASA + defense), and core mission of additive construction for extreme environments.
- Cobod (COBOD International): Cobod is a leading supplier of large-format gantry 3D printers for construction, sharing the same architectural-scale additive manufacturing category as SpaceFactory's Starforge T200. While primarily terrestrial, Cobod represents the same competitive benchmark for industrial 3D printing hardware at scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SpaceFactory social profiles
Digital presenceSpaceFactory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SpaceFactory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SpaceFactory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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SpaceFactory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SpaceFactory
What does SpaceFactory do?
SpaceFactory develops and sells large-format robotic 3D printing systems and proprietary space-construction technologies for extreme environments including lunar surface operations and expeditionary defense logistics. The company manufactures the ASTRA robotic-arm 3D printer and the Starforge T200 large-format gantry printer for industrial customers, while developing patent-pending lunar payloads (LITHOS-1), space-rated 3D printing technology, biopolymer composite materials, and regolith-processing systems through NASA partnerships. The commercial portfolio combines hardware sales with government research contracts and technology licensing.
Is SpaceFactory a public or private company?
SpaceFactory is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SpaceFactory founded?
SpaceFactory was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SpaceFactory based?
SpaceFactory is headquartered in Tanner, United States, in the North America region.
How does SpaceFactory make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Research Contracts are the primary driver. The others are commercial Additive Manufacturing Equipment Sales and technology Licensing and Consulting.
Who are SpaceFactory's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Branch Technology, VulcanForms and Astrobotic Technology. Broad incumbents are Northrop Grumman, Relativity Space and Lockheed Martin. Direct peers are Apis Cor, Redwire Corporation, ICON and Cobod (COBOD International).
Does SpaceFactory have an API?
No public API is recorded for SpaceFactory.
What industry is SpaceFactory in?
SpaceFactory's product category is Industrial 3D Printing Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAF, Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control, with a secondary code of IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.