Canadore College's Innovation lab produces multi-tool for mining on other planets

Evan Butler-Jones has just wrapped up a dream project.

The research leader at I-CAMP, Canadore College's Innovation lab, recently helpeddesign a multi-tool for mining in space. He couldn't show CBC News the tool, because its considered a top-secret project.

The self-described "space nerd" told CBC's Up Northhis entire team loved working on the project, which was proposed bymining equipment manufacturers AtlasCopcoandDeltionInnovations.

"At first we said 'it's great!'" Butler-Jones said.

"Then we said, 'what are we getting ourselves into together?"

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"We first had to sit down and solve the design problems," he said.

"Sometimes you look up and say, 'I'm really doing this,' then head back down and figure out the next problem to solve."

Using a 3D metal printer in I-CAMP's labs, Butler-Jones worked with themanufacturers' designers to come up with the multi-tool,which he said will be affixed to the end of a robotic arm.

Although he's not privy to all the information, Butler-Jones said the tool will be used by astronauts for various exploration needs.

"It's not going to be like a huge drill rig on the side of the road," Butler-Jones said.

"It's going to be launched out to the moon or Mars or asteroids, [so] it's got to be fairly small."

Butler-Jones said now that the design and building of the tool is completed, it goes through a long period of testing.

"You don't get a lot of tries at it," he said. "You want to get it right the first time."

Listen to the interview here