Space debris can be recycled for manufacturing in space
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Peer-reviewed literature demonstrates that space debris can be conceptualized and utilized as feedstock for in situ manufacturing and resource recovery in space.
Advancements in material science, manufacturing and sensor technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things have paved the way for fabricating new parts using additive manufacturing in microgravity conditions. NASA has successfully demonstrated 3D printing onboard the International Space Station (ISS), though at a minor scale. Nevertheless, the parts built onboard the ISS were returned to Earth for further testing and verification. The logistics of bi-directional transportation of raw materials from Earth to ISS and 3D-printed parts from ISS back to Earth is complex, expensive, and slow. Harnessing materials from space to establish in-orbit manufacturing as a sustainable process is both technically and economically challenging. The potential to reuse, repurpose or recycle space debris is not well studied, though there is an increasing momentum in Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions. Unlike the standard research or review paper, this is a visionary paper in which the authors explicitly address the intersection between space debris removal and in-space manufacturing. This paper defines a pathway towards implementing an operational in-orbit manufacturing and debris removal model. For the first time, the authors introduce the application of Cloud-Based Design and Manufacturing (CBDM) for in-space manufacturing in this paper. The paper aims to define a roadmap towards implementing a space operational model for in-orbit manufacturing and debris removal. Future enabling technologies that will leverage the advances in robotics, automation, and Space 5.0-based solutions to create a new environmentally friendly and economically profitable orbital ecosystem are presented. The authors analyze the pros and cons of robotic ADR, upcycling and recycling space debris for on-demand manufacturing in orbit and present a systematic approach to implementing in-orbit manufacturing as a new frontier. Recommendations are made to establish an imminent Earth-independent space logistics and supply chain system for operating an orbital factory or warehouse that will help realize a suite of in-orbit manufacturing, maintenance, and assembly missions.
The threat posed by MMOD to spacecraft has escalated with the growing density of orbital objects, driven by the proliferation of satellite constellations such as Starlink and OneWeb. This paper reviews the current challenges and advancements in MMOD impact protection, emphasizing innovations in shielding technologies. The synthesis of recent developments highlights the role of hybrid materials, additive manufacturing, and international collaboration in ensuring spacecraft resilience while promoting orbital sustainability.
The rapid increase of orbital debris, now consisting of tens of thousands of objects (larger than 1 cm), large enough to be tracked, together limited resources, highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices to space activities. This review explores the emerging applications of circular economy principles in space waste management, specifically with reference to what is utilized inside spacecraft, orbiting station and future space bases in order to maximize resource recovery and materials reuse. A broad yet structured literature search across major databases was carried out. Studies based on their relevance to in‑orbit recycling, bioregenerative systems, debris valorization and closed‑loop manufacturing were selected. The analytical strategy combined thematic mapping with keyword co-occurrence visualization based on VOSviewer to uncover emerging research clusters and highlight underexplored areas within the literature. Major contributions include (i) advancing the concept of space circularity by conceptualizing debris as feedstock for in situ manufacturing, emphasizing the potential to transform space debris into usable resources and (ii) mapping enabling technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging for waste classification, biological carbon reactors for urine recycling and in‑space additive manufacturing of bioplastic components. The systematic review carried out using the PRISMA method has paved the way for a forward‑looking research agenda that bridges theoretical insight and operational innovation in the space sector. Furthermore, the findings are valuable for policymakers, practitioners and academics, as they intend to provide future research focused on developing innovative, sustainable approaches for long-term in-space habitation. This includes strategies for extended stays on space stations located far from Earth, such as deep space habitats or orbital platforms beyond Earth’s orbit.
Abstract The processes of space debris capture and processing into fuel are considered. The mentioned processes have a number of limitations on the choice of materials to be recycled (space debris) and on the creation of spacecraft for space debris utilization (hereinafter - space debris collector). Management of space debris capture and utilization processes is inseparably connected with pseudo-liquid fuel, received by the collector from space debris. Pseudo-liquid fuel is finely dispersed garbage in the environment of hydrogen (fuel) and oxygen (oxidizer). To control the processes of space debris capture and utilization into fuel it is necessary to determine the choice of materials of the spacecraft capture device and manufacturing of internal systems. Efficiency of space debris capturing and utilization into fuel management will be provided by fulfilling a number of fundamental requirements in addition to those of the work: orbital altitude of space debris collector is conditioned by space debris location in space (orbit altitude, inclination); space debris is captured only from certain materials and alloys (metallized space debris); space debris is captured by the network at the intersection of the target orbit at small angles; material and structure of the tether is selected based on maximum tension and absence of breaks.
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