According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for smoothing one or more surfaces of a 3D-printed object in reduced gravity is provided. The present invention may include positioning one or more radiative heating elements to evenly heat one or more surfaces of a 3D-printed object based on a shape of the 3D-printed object; determining, for at least one of the one or more radiative heating elements, a desired heat output necessary to melt the outermost layers of the one or more surfaces; and pulsing the one or more radiative heating elements to melt the one or more surfaces, wherein the duration and frequency of the pulsing is configured to achieve the desired heat output.