3D printing is a transformative technology in space exploration, offering on-demand and rapid manufacturing capabilities that address challenges such as mass reduction, complex component fabrication, and resource constraints. It plays a crucial role in aerospace science, contributing to advancements in electronics, biomedicine, and resource optimization. This perspective explores the technological advantages, environmental challenges, development status, and opportunities of 3D printing in space. It envisions its potential to unlock innovative solutions, reshape manufacturing practices, and foster self-sufficiency in future space endeavors. 3D printing is essential in space exploration because it can manufacture intricate and customized structures locally, offering unparalleled design flexibility while reducing time and development costs. It enables the fabrication and assembly of large structures in orbit, significantly reducing mission expenses by launching only raw materials and essential components. The technology is gaining traction for its remarkable mass savings, ranging from 40% to 90%, directly translating to cost reduction. Additionally, it expedites the production of complex parts, reducing fabrication times from a year to just 4 months. Beyond mechanical structures, 3D printing excels at manufacturing components for emergency repairs in space, offering a versatile and adaptive solution for unforeseen events. The inherently challenging space environment, marked by resource constraints and the impracticality of conventional resupply mechanisms, underscores the strategic importance of on-demand manufacturing capabilities. Historical examples highlight the effectiveness of rapid fabrication in addressing critical technical challenges. 3D bioprinting extends the capability to generate 3D tissue and organs in space, establishing a technological platform for studying the impact of the space environment on humans. This innovation facilitates regenerative and sustainable clinical healthcare in space, addressing the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to the space environment. 3D printing also holds potential for providing timely sources of functional tissues for astronauts in cases of severe trauma or illness. Many crucial elements for astronaut well-being, such as food, daily necessities, and lunar living accommodations, have the potential to be fabricated through 3D printing. Food 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize space food manufacturing by addressing challenges related to nutrition, variety, and personalization for long-duration human-crewed space missions. Advancements in 3D printing technology offer solutions to improve food options, reduce waste, and enable on-demand preparation in space. In addition, 3D printing becomes invaluable for utilizing in-situ resources for extending manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Given the challenging lunar and Martian environments, constructing artificial habitats from local materials, such as regoliths, through 3D printing is pivotal for sustainable deep space exploration. The advancement of 3D printing technology in space encounters numerous challenges due to the harsh environmental conditions beyond Earth’s atmosphere. These challenges encompass the vacuum of space, significant temperature differentials, and the impact of cosmic and solar radiation. Microgravity poses formidable challenges to space-based 3D printing, affecting both the printing and post-production phases. The vacuum of space introduces challenges3D printing is a transformative technology in space exploration, offering on-demand and rapid manufacturing capabilities that address challenges such as mass reduction, complex component fabrication, and resource constraints. It plays a crucial role in aerospace science, contributing to advancements in electronics, biomedicine, and resource optimization. This perspective explores the technological advantages, environmental challenges, development status, and opportunities of 3D printing in space. It envisions its potential to unlock innovative solutions, reshape manufacturing practices, and foster self-sufficiency in future space endeavors. 3D printing is essential in space exploration because it can manufacture intricate and customized structures locally, offering unparalleled design flexibility while reducing time and development costs. It enables the fabrication and assembly of large structures in orbit, significantly reducing mission expenses by launching only raw materials and essential components. The technology is gaining traction for its remarkable mass savings, ranging from 40% to 90%, directly translating to cost reduction. Additionally, it expedites the production of complex parts, reducing fabrication times from a year to just 4 months. Beyond mechanical structures, 3D printing excels at manufacturing components for emergency repairs in space, offering a versatile and adaptive solution for unforeseen events. The inherently challenging space environment, marked by resource constraints and the impracticality of conventional resupply mechanisms, underscores the strategic importance of on-demand manufacturing capabilities. Historical examples highlight the effectiveness of rapid fabrication in addressing critical technical challenges. 3D bioprinting extends the capability to generate 3D tissue and organs in space, establishing a technological platform for studying the impact of the space environment on humans. This innovation facilitates regenerative and sustainable clinical healthcare in space, addressing the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to the space environment. 3D printing also holds potential for providing timely sources of functional tissues for astronauts in cases of severe trauma or illness. Many crucial elements for astronaut well-being, such as food, daily necessities, and lunar living accommodations, have the potential to be fabricated through 3D printing. Food 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize space food manufacturing by addressing challenges related to nutrition, variety, and personalization for long-duration human-crewed space missions. Advancements in 3D printing technology offer solutions to improve food options, reduce waste, and enable on-demand preparation in space. In addition, 3D printing becomes invaluable for utilizing in-situ resources for extending manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Given the challenging lunar and Martian environments, constructing artificial habitats from local materials, such as regoliths, through 3D printing is pivotal for sustainable deep space exploration. The advancement of 3D printing technology in space encounters numerous challenges due to the harsh environmental conditions beyond Earth’s atmosphere. These challenges encompass the vacuum of space, significant temperature differentials, and the impact of cosmic and solar radiation. Microgravity poses formidable challenges to space-based 3D printing, affecting both the printing and post-production phases. The vacuum of space introduces challenges