There’s already a bunch of research into space based manufacturing/resource extraction and how it might be done. Manufacturing has also been a component of most space-based research since like, the 70’s. Tons more research needs to be done but literally all it takes is the ability to house researchers and lab equipment in microgravity. If we’re talking about setting up a Moon colony, we’d 100% have a proliferation of space-based materials research. Considering what we’ve already learned putting like five astronauts in a tin can at a time and making them run small numbers of experiments in between publicity stunts and every other kind of research they have them do up there, I don’t really think it’ll take long to work out a useful suite of techniques.

If we actually make the leap to, say, the Moon, there will 100% be resources and infrastructure to set up labs in microgravity. There would be a period of figuring out new technologies, yes, but I think there would likely be a heavy emphasis on reducing redundant gravity well trips when possible. Seriously, look at the costs involved with going to and from a gravity well versus transport in microgravity. Orders of magnitude cheaper.