NASA spokespeople frequently tell the public that space exploration is not for the faint of heart. But, this type of work is also not for the impatient.

Aerospace engineers are pushing the boundaries of 3D printing.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL—Boeing opened a new factory here on Friday, where work is underway to build a replacement for the space shuttle.

ORANGE COUNTY, VA—Aerojet Rocketdyne will invest $11 million to expand its manufacturing operation here. The expansion is anticipated to create 100 new jobs.

LONG BEACH, CA—Virgin Galactic has leased a new facility here to design and manufacture its small satellite launcher, LauncherOne.

On Sept. 18, 2013, the unmanned Cygnus cargo spacecraft was launched into orbit for the first time. Shortly thereafter, it reached and docked with the International Space Station (ISS).

LITTLETON, CO—Lockheed Martin is pledging to create as many as 500 new high-paying aerospace jobs here over eight years in exchange for up to $15.5 million in state job-growth tax incentives.

WASHINGTON—NASA’s new Vertical Assembly Center, a 170-foot-high machine that will be used to assemble elements of the agency’s Space Launch System, is ready to weld parts for the rocket that will send humans to an asteroid and Mars.

EL SEGUNDO, CA—Millennium Space Systems has opened a new 70,000-square-foot headquarters and assembly plant here. The factory can produce more than 40 satellites simultaneously.

ROLLA, MO—Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are running computer simulations of additive manufacturing processes that could lead to stronger, more durable materials for spacecraft.