PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1852695
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1852695
A three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine is a propulsion system created using additive manufacturing techniques, where layers of metal or advanced materials are built up to form intricate engine parts. Its main advantages include reducing production time and costs, enabling lightweight and complex designs, and enhancing performance by allowing shapes that are challenging or impossible to achieve with conventional manufacturing methods.
The primary types of 3D printed rocket engines include liquid rocket engines, solid rocket engines, hybrid rocket engines, air-breathing engines, and electric propulsion systems. Liquid rocket engines use liquid propellants to generate thrust and are made from materials such as metal alloys, thermoplastics, and ceramics. Manufacturing technologies employed include fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), binder jetting, and direct energy deposition (DED). Key end users consist of commercial space companies, government agencies, aerospace and defense contractors, research organizations, and educational institutions.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.
The 3-dimensional printed rocket engine market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides 3-dimensional printed rocket engine market statistics, including 3-dimensional printed rocket engine industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a 3-dimensional printed rocket engine market share, detailed 3-dimensional printed rocket engine market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the 3-dimensional printed rocket engine industry. The 3-dimensional printed rocket engine market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $0.55 billion in 2024 to $0.68 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.1%. The growth during the historic period is driven by a rise in satellite launches, increased demand for cost-effective propulsion solutions, greater adoption of small and medium-sized launch vehicles, expansion of commercial space exploration initiatives, and growing government investment in space programs.
The three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.49 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.7%. The growth projected for the forecast period is driven by increasing demand for reusable rocket technologies, rising private sector investments in space startups, a growing need for rapid prototyping in rocket development, expansion of commercial satellite internet networks, and enhanced collaborations between space agencies and manufacturers. Key trends during this period include technological progress in additive manufacturing, development of lightweight yet high-strength materials, innovations in modular engine design, and improvements in the speed and scalability of 3D printing.
Rising investments in space exploration are expected to fuel the growth of the three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market. Space exploration involves studying outer space using spacecraft, satellites, and advanced technologies. The surge in investments is driven by increasing demand for advanced satellite communication and data services that offer faster and more reliable connectivity. These investments accelerate the development of propulsion technologies and manufacturing methods, promoting the adoption of additive manufacturing. This enables the production of lighter, more efficient, and cost-effective rocket engines, supporting innovative designs for future space missions. For example, the Space Foundation reported that international government spending on space programs reached \$125 billion in 2023, marking an 11% rise from 2022. As a result, growing investments in space exploration are propelling the three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market forward.
Major companies in the three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market are focusing on innovative manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing to gain a competitive edge. Additive manufacturing involves creating metal engine components layer by layer from digital designs, allowing for part consolidation, weight reduction, and faster production compared to traditional methods. For example, in March 2023, Relativity Space Inc., a US-based launch vehicle manufacturer, launched Terran 1, the first rocket to be 3D-printed. Using large custom 3D printers called Stargate, the company fabricates rockets from proprietary metal alloys to simplify the production process and infrastructure needed for spaceflight. Terran 1 is a two-stage, expendable launch vehicle designed for small satellite missions. It stands 110 feet tall and is about 85% 3D-printed by mass, including both engines and structural components. The rocket is powered by nine Aeon 1 engines on the first stage and a single Aeon Vac engine on the second stage, using liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX) as propellants.
In July 2023, L3Harris Technologies Inc., an American aerospace and defense technology firm, purchased Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc. for \$4.7 billion. This deal allowed L3Harris to boost its presence in the space and missile propulsion sector by increasing its expertise in high-thrust upper-stage engines and improving its support for missions related to national security and space exploration. Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc. is a US-based aerospace and defense manufacturer known for producing high-performance rocket engine parts using 3D printing technology.
Major players in the three dimensional (3d) printed rocket engine market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, IHI Corporation, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Blue Origin LLC, ArianeGroup SAS, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Stratasys Ltd., EOS GmbH, Relativity Space Inc., Rocket Lab USA Inc., AgniKul Cosmos Pvt. Ltd., Gilmour Space Technologies Pty Ltd, Firefly Aerospace Inc., Ursa Major Technologies Inc., Orbex Space Ltd., Morpheus Space GmbH & Co. KG, Skyrora Ltd, Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., and iRocket Pvt. Ltd.
North America was the largest region in the three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as design and engineering of rocket engines, rapid prototyping of engine components, testing and validation of propulsion systems, and consulting or technical support related to 3D-printed rocket engines. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The three-dimensional (3D) printed rocket engine market also includes sales of fully 3D-printed rocket engines, individual 3D-printed engine components, and propulsion system kits. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values; that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Three Dimensional (3D) Printed Rocket Engine Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on three dimensional (3d) printed rocket engine market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for three dimensional (3d) printed rocket engine ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The three dimensional (3d) printed rocket engine market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.