SpaceMiningData
SpacecraftOtherEnded

Brokkr-1

AstroForge's first spacecraft, a small satellite launched to low Earth orbit in April 2023 to demonstrate in-space refining of platinum from an asteroid-simulant material. The operator reports the spacecraft was contacted, deployed its solar arrays and was commissioned, but the command uplink needed to activate the refinery payload could not be closed; last contact was 16 May 2024 and the refinery demonstration was not completed.

Objective. Demonstrate an in-space refinery by extracting platinum from an asteroid simulant (operator statement).

Claimed

Facts

Kind
Spacecraft
Mission type
Technology demonstration
Target
OtherLow Earth orbit (the planned demonstration used asteroid-simulant material, not asteroid material)
Launch
2023-04-15
Launch vehicle
Falcon 9 (SpaceX rideshare)
Phase
EndedOperator update of 30 July 2024 gives the final objective status: separation, initial contact, solar array deployment and commissioning completed; refinery baseline checkouts incomplete; refinery demonstration not completed.
Outcome
PartialBasis: operator statement
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

Outcome statement (operator statement)

We received downlink telemetry packets but remained unable to close the command uplink necessary to activate the refinery payload. So while we could reasonably monitor overall vehicle health, we were not able to check out the demo refinery on this flight.

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
AstroForgeOperator
SpaceXLaunch provider

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
Platinum-group metalsClaimed

Open evidence gaps

  • Primary source naming the specific rideshare flight (press reports SpaceX Transporter-7).
  • Spacecraft builder OrbAstro is named in the summary and is not recorded as its own organization.

Sources

6 sources
  1. [1]An Update on Our Progress Towards Mining in Space
    AstroForgeCompany statementPublished 2023-12-11Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date
    The Brokkr-1 refinery demonstration mission successfully launched on April 15, 2023
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]An Update on Our Progress Towards Mining in Space
    AstroForgeCompany statementPublished 2023-12-11Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: objective, resources
    extracting platinum from an asteroid simulant
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]An Update on Our Progress Towards Mining in Space
    AstroForgeCompany statementPublished 2023-12-11Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
    During final integration and testing with OrbAstro, we identified that the magnetic field generated by our refinery system prevented the satellite's ability to actively orient the satellite.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]An update on Missions 1 and 2
    AstroForgeCompany statementPublished 2024-07-30Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: phase, outcome
    we made our last contact on May 16, 2024 14:52 UTC
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]An update on Missions 1 and 2
    AstroForgeCompany statementPublished 2024-07-30Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: outcome
    we were not able to check out the demo refinery on this flight
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]Astroforge raises $13M seed round for asteroid mining ambitions
    TechCrunchPressPublished 2022-05-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch vehicle
    scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission next year
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.