Abstract
The performance of wire-sawing in vacuum has been investigated for future lunar and planetary explorations. Nickel fixing abrasives adhered on a rock specimen in vacuum and the rock was hardly cut. In this report, the causes of the adhesion were estimated by friction tests. The nickel surface became oxide in air and more brittle than pure nickel. Consequently, nickel was removed in air. On the other hand, nickel was not oxidized in vacuum and was still tough and soft after rubbing. In addition, debris adhered on the machined area by electrostatics. Consequently, the abrasives slipped on the nickel and machining did not progress.
