Kim de Groh and Sylvie Crowell review what researchers have learned and published from the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) platform that tests how materials perform in the harsh environment of space.
Space is an extremely hostile environment for materials
Materials in low-Earth orbit face atomic oxygen, intense UV radiation, thermal cycling, and micrometeoroid impacts.
Atomic oxygen is a highly reactive single atom that can erode and disintegrate spacecraft materials.
Ground testing cannot perfectly simulate the combination of environmental factors found in space, making flight experiments essential.
The MISSE program provides critical data for spacecraft durability
The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) has been testing materials on the ISS for 25 years.
The MISSE Flight Facility allows researchers to expose samples to specific orientations (RAM, WAKE, Zenith, Nader) to study different environmental impacts.
Data from these experiments informs the selection of materials for future missions, including lunar and deep space exploration.
Biomaterials show promise for sustainable space exploration
Research into melanin-infused biocomposites (like PLA) suggests they can provide radiation shielding and structural stability.
Fungal mycelium and melanin are being studied for their potential to be cultivated in space, reducing the need for Earth-based supply chains.
These bio-inspired materials are lightweight, sustainable, and potentially self-repairing.
Everything you see is made of a material. The products you buy in a store, the structures that keep your house standing, even the clothes you're wearing. Everything needs materials to function.