【#Tech24H】The Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully completed a demonstration and verification of space metal additive manufacturing technology using the Qingzhou test spacecraft. Space metal additive manufacturing, commonly known as space metal 3D printing, differs significantly from ground-based manufacturing. It must not only address unique mechanistic challenges under microgravity conditions—such as metal droplet transfer, liquid bridge stability, and molten pool evolution—but also overcome a series of engineering hurdles including payload lightweighting, launch vibration resistance, power interface adaptation, telemetry, remote control and autonomous operation, and in-orbit safety procedures. This field represents a leading-edge frontier in international aerospace manufacturing. In the future, this technology will help transform the traditional "take what you have" model of space missions, gradually moving toward a "produce what you need" capability, serving in-orbit manufacturing and repair applications, spare parts production for space facilities, structural repairs, and autonomous support for deep-space missions. [ By Zhang Liyan ]