CAPE CANAVERAL, FL—A new R&D project will study cold welding techniques for in-orbit spacecraft repairs. It’s an out-of-this-world idea akin to patching a tire while travelling through outer space.

The experiment recently arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) via SpaceX’s 31st Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA.

The remotely controlled experiment, designed to address hull breaches caused by micrometeoroids or space debris, consists of four chambers with calibrated metallic samples. If successful, the project could establish cold welding as a crucial tool for in-space repair, significantly boosting the durability of spacecraft and the safety of crewed missions.

The Astrobeat initiative is spearheaded by Leonardo Barilaro, Ph.D., a senior lecturer in aerospace engineering at the Malta College of Arts, Sciences and Technology. The project will evaluate cold welding in space by testing metal patches on simulated spacecraft hulls, offering a safer and potentially more reliable method for in-orbit repairs than traditional techniques.

Cold welding uses a calibrated force to join metallic materials without heat, minimizing risks like structural damage to spacecraft from high temperatures. This technique benefits from the space station’s microgravity environment, where metals don’t re-oxidize quickly, allowing for cleaner and stronger bonds.

“Cold welding has long been considered an adverse phenomenon in space, but with Astrobeat, we’re transforming a problem into a viable repair mechanism,” says Barilaro. “It aims to create a paradigm shift in conducting structural repairs in space—swiftly, efficiently and with minimal external intervention.