Reaching for the Stars: How 3D Manufacturing Start-up Additive Space Technologies is Changing the Aerospace Industry

From prosthetic limbs to entire homes, our modern society has found a way to 3D print almost everything. But what about an extraterrestrial spacecraft? One California start-up is already working on it. 

At the intersection of aerospace travel and additive manufacturing is Additive Space Technologies. The Berkeley, California, company is working to bolster aerospace manufacturing capabilities to meet the industry’s current demands, address the painstakingly long production cycles, and architect next-generation aerospace vehicles.

But for company co-founder and chief executive officer Oluseun Taiwo, Additive Space Technologies’ mission is more than just about progressing technology standards. “Our goal is to advance humanity towards being a space-faring civilization,” says Taiwo. “But to do that, manufacturing in the aerospace realm has to advance to signify the other queues that push that process forward.”

Taking 3D Printing and Robotic Assembly to a New Level

Additive manufacturing, the more technical term for 3D printing, is the computer-guided process of creating three-dimensional objects by layering material deposits. While the technology is not new, Additive Space Technologies has maximized its potential in a much more significant way.

The brand is developing its own proprietary take on additive manufacturing in the form of a large-scale robotic printing solution it calls Aperture. Built as a singular platform with patented 3D welding capabilities and robotic assembly, Aperture is a fully integrated system suitable for printing aerospace equipment and technology—think airplanes, rockets, and other aerospace vehicles. 

According to Taiwo, his team has shaved down production to offer unprecedented turnaround times. The new approach to manufacturing also means more cost-effective designs that stand up against traditionally made products. “We are able to design, build, and fly product in weeks instead of years,” he explains. 

Advancing Humanity Through Additive Manufacturing

Additive Space Technologies’ new-age approach to additive manufacturing has already earned the company a seat at the aerospace manufacturing table. “We just finished revising one of our technologies,” Taiwo points out. Now the brand is focused on securing funding to continue that work in the coming year.

Taiwo founded the start-up with co-founder Anthony Dean in 2022. Before striking out on his own, Taiwo worked for other prominent players in the additive manufacturing space, including Rocket Lab USA and Virgin Orbit. Meanwhile, Dean started his career with recognized industry leaders such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—more commonly known as NASA.

Shaped by decades of experience and inspired by a staggering vision, Taiwo explains his work in a way that seems mission possible: “We are advancing manufacturing to advance transportation to advance infrastructure to advance humanity.” To learn more about Additive Space Technologies, visit additivespacetech.com.