A robotic arm successfully cut through corrosion-resistant steel during a test in space. The demonstration could pave the way to chopping up and recycling orbital debris into useful objects. Such in-space capabilities would reduce the fuel-intensive process of bringing mass to orbit.

The Outpost Mars Demo-1 (OMD-1) test was carried out by Voyager and Nanoracks, space infrastructure companies, with support from Maxar Technologies. Maxar developed the robotic arm, which used a commercially available friction milling end-effector, which uses a cutting tool operating at high rotations per minute to soften the metal in such a way that a cut is made while reducing further debris.

“This successful demonstration of cutting metal in orbit marks a significant milestone in the journey to building infrastructure in space,” said Marshall Smith, Nanoracks Senior Vice President of Space Systems. “We will dig into why the two extra coupons were not cut. This is exactly why we test, examine, and test again when forging new technology in space. With the lessons we’ve learned so far, we are incredibly eager to make the necessary adjustments to be able to conduct another metal cutting experiment in the near future.”

A spokesperson for Nanoracks added, “This mission success is critical to Voyager and Nanoracks’ long-term goal of converting upper stages into outposts in-orbit, highlighting the full potential of infrastructure-as-a-service in space and orbital sustainability.”