NASA-Made Material Could Help Manufacture Equipment On The Moon And MarsA new NASA-made material could help astronauts manufacture and repair equipment on the Moon and Mars using resources available on those worlds.
NASA Material Uses Simulated Moon And Mars DustResearch chemical engineer Allison Christy and her team of summer interns at NASA Glenn developed the material by mixing the special plastic with simulated Moon and Mars dust.
Material Could Support Moon ManufacturingThe resulting material could potentially manufacture equipment for future lunar or Martian habitats.
NASA Tests Material In Extreme ConditionsResearchers are now examining whether the material could withstand the harsh environments found on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
By combining biodegradable plastic with simulated lunar and Martian dust, researchers are exploring how local resources could become part of future space manufacturing.
NASA-Made Material Could Help Manufacture Equipment On The Moon And Mars
A new NASA-made material could help astronauts manufacture and repair equipment on the Moon and Mars using resources available on those worlds. Developed at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the material could reduce the supplies crews need to carry from Earth and help lower launch costs.
The material combines a special biodegradable plastic with simulated lunar and Martian dust. Researchers are studying whether the approach could support future manufacturing during long-duration space missions.
NASA Material Uses Simulated Moon And Mars Dust
Research chemical engineer Allison Christy and her team of summer interns at NASA Glenn developed the material by mixing the special plastic with simulated Moon and Mars dust.
The team included Tyler Klinchuch, Ethan Bilodeau and Emma Levenson. The plastic can biodegrade and could potentially be produced by bacteria fed with crew waste or carbon dioxide.
Christy said the plastic grows within the bacteria’s bodies. The researchers then incorporated simulated lunar and Martian dust particles into the material.
The tests showed that adding the dust made the plastic stronger and easier to process. Moreover, researchers could adjust the material’s properties by changing the type and amount of dust used.
Material Could Support Moon Manufacturing
The resulting material could potentially manufacture equipment for future lunar or Martian habitats.
Possible applications include structural brackets, wrenches and chairs. In addition, the material could support on-demand fabrication, allowing crews to produce equipment when they need it.
The approach could also enable fully recyclable manufacturing using material found on the lunar or Martian surface. Therefore, it could help reduce the need to transport large quantities of supplies from Earth.
NASA is pursuing technologies that could support a permanent Moon base. Local manufacturing could help crews build and repair essential equipment without relying entirely on regular resupply missions.
Christy said crews cannot take everything they might need to the Moon or Mars. If equipment breaks, astronauts will need ways to repair it using available resources.
NASA Tests Material In Extreme Conditions
Researchers are now examining whether the material could withstand the harsh environments found on the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
The material is undergoing testing in NASA Glenn’s Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig. The tests will examine how samples perform under extreme temperatures.
Several samples are also scheduled to launch aboard the upcoming Materials International Space Station Experiment 23 (MISSE-23) mission. The samples will be exposed to intense conditions outside the International Space Station.
These tests could provide further information about whether the material can withstand conditions beyond a controlled habitat.
Research Supports Future Space Manufacturing
The new material could offer astronauts a way to manufacture equipment closer to where it is needed. By combining biodegradable plastic with simulated lunar and Martian dust, researchers are exploring how local resources could become part of future space manufacturing.
The team also hopes to determine whether the material can be used outdoors on the Moon or Mars. Further testing will help establish how it performs under extreme environmental conditions.
The research is funded through NASA Glenn’s 2026 Center Innovation Fund, managed by the agency’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
