Imagine building something as complex as a spacecraft component, atom by atom, right in the middle of space. Sounds like science fiction, right?
Well, it’s not anymore.
A Copenhagen and London-based startup called ATLANT 3D just secured $15 million in funding to make this a reality, and they’ve got NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) cheering them on. Announced on March 11, 2025, this cash injection is set to turbocharge their mission to transform how we manufacture machines for space exploration.
Let’s unpack what this means, why it’s a big deal, and how it could change the future of space, and maybe even life back here on Earth.
ATLANT 3D is a company that’s been quietly revolutionizing manufacturing since 2018, just closed a Series A+ funding round led by West Hill Capital, a London-based investment firm.
This $15 million boost brings their total funding to $32.6 million. The money’s coming at a perfect time, too. With space agencies and private companies racing to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, there’s a growing need for tech that can keep up.
ATLANT 3D says this investement will help them scale up their operations, deepen ties with NASA and ESA, and push their cutting-edge tech even further.
Why does this matter?
Well, space is tough. Building things for it, think satellites, rovers, or even quantum computers to crunch data in orbit, requires insane precision and efficiency.
Traditional manufacturing methods, like the ones used to make your phone or car, are too slow, wasteful, and clunky for space’s demands.
ATLANT 3D’s solution is a game-changing approach called Direct Atomic Layer Processing, or DALP for short. It’s like a 3D printer, but instead of plastic, it works with atoms, building materials one tiny piece at a time.
Building the future, atom by atom
So, what’s DALP all about? Picture this: instead of carving a sculpture out of a big block of stone (and tossing half of it away), you’re stacking microscopic Lego bricks exactly where they need to go.
That’s the gist of ATLANT 3D’s tech. Unlike the old-school way of making semiconductors, which involves multiple steps, pricey machines, and a lot of chemical waste, DALP deposits materials directly, with pinpoint accuracy, in one go. According to the company, it cuts material waste by up to 90%. That’s huge when you’re in space, where every gram counts, and you can’t just pop down to the hardware store.
Their flagship products, the NANOFABRICATOR™ line, including models like LITE, FLOW, and the space-ready ZERO-G, bring this tech to life. These machines can whip up everything from lightweight, radiation-proof materials for spacecraft to tiny components for quantum computers that could one day run calculations in orbit.
Dr. Maksym Plakhotnyuk, the company’s founder and CEO, told TFN a british tech media outtlet , “Space manufacturing requires extraordinary precision and reliability. We saw an opportunity to develop a 3D printer capable of creating space-ready components at the atomic scale.” And they’re not just dreaming big, they’re delivering. Over 50 organizations, including heavy hitters like NASA, ESA, STMicroelectronics, and Sony, are already using their systems.
Let’s talk about those partnerships. NASA and ESA aren’t just casual fans, they’re active collaborators. ATLANT 3D’s NANOFABRICATOR™ ZERO-G, designed for microgravity (think floating astronauts on the International Space Station), is a standout.
In 2022, they teamed up with NASA to test this system, aiming to make thin-film materials in space, a first of its kind, according to a Business Wire report. The goal? To eventually stick one of these bad boys on the ISS or even a lunar base, letting astronauts build what they need on the spot.
ESA’s in on it too, working through their Business Incubation Centre (BIC) to tweak the tech for space missions.
This a big deal because currently space travel’s logistics are a nightmare. Right now, if a part breaks on the ISS for example, you’ve got to launch a rocket from Earth, costing millions and taking months. With ATLANT 3D’s tech, you could print that part in orbit.
Plakhotnyuk put it best: “We’re enabling partners to develop previously impossible devices for space applications, from advanced materials for spacecraft to components for space-based quantum computers.” Imagine a Mars crew printing tools or spare parts mid-mission. That’s the future they’re chasing.
ATLANT 3D’s systems can process over 450 different materials, metals, semiconductors, you name it, making them super versatile. Their deposition speed hits up to 200 millimeters per second, which is lightning-fast for this kind of precision work.
And that 90% waste reduction? It’s not just green bragging rights, it could save billions in the long run. For context, NASA’s 2024 budget alone was $25 billion, with a chunk spent on manufacturing and launches. Tech like this could trim those costs, freeing up cash for more missions.
Research backs this up. A 2023 study from the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets found that in-space manufacturing could cut mission costs by 30-50% over the next decade.
ATLANT 3D’s already ahead of the curve, with their tech deployed across labs and companies worldwide. Crunchbase pegs their network at over 50 partners, including Fortune 500 names, proof they’re not just a startup with a cool idea but a player with real traction.
What’s next?
So, where’s this all headed? Plakhotnyuk’s got a roadmap. “For the next 3-5 years, we’re focusing on expanding our space manufacturing capabilities,” he said. They’re working with NASA and ESA on upcoming missions, think lunar landings or Mars rovers, where their tech could shine.
The ZERO-G system’s a key piece, designed for deep space autonomy. Imagine a Moon base printing solar panels or a Mars habitat churning out spare parts. It’s not just convenient—it could be a game-changer for human survival off-planet.
Zoom out, and this isn’t just about space. ATLANT 3D’s tech could ripple back to Earth. Cutting waste by 90%? That’s a blueprint for greener manufacturing here, think electronics, medical devices, even solar panels.
It’s a reminder that space tech often spins off into everyday life (hello, memory foam and GPS). If they pull this off, we might see a new era of sustainable production, all sparked by the race to the stars.
For now, ATLANT 3D’s $15 million haul is a vote of confidence in a wild idea: building the future, one atom at a time.
With NASA and ESA in their corner, they’re not just dreaming, they’re doing. Whether it’s a quantum computer orbiting Earth or a wrench printed on Mars, this little startup’s proving that big things start small. Keep an eye on them, the next frontier’s closer than you think.
