Brief
NASA develops biodegradable plastic material for on‑site Moon and Mars manufacturing
The material, made at NASA’s Glenn Research Center, could reduce launch weight by enabling on‑demand fabrication on lunar and Martian surfaces.
By Felo News Desk · Published
NASA engineers at the Glenn Research Center have produced a biodegradable plastic that can be strengthened with simulated Moon and Mars dust, a step toward on‑site manufacturing for future missions, according to a NASA release on 29 September 2026.
The team, led by chemical engineer Allison Christy and including summer interns Tyler Klinchuch, Ethan Bilodeau and Emma Levenson, mixed the plastic with lunar‑ and Martian‑simulated regolith. The resulting material showed a colorful crystal structure under a microscope and demonstrated increased strength and processability.
Christy said the plastic “literally grows within the bacteria’s little bodies,” highlighting its potential to be produced by bacteria fed with crew waste or carbon dioxide. She added, “You can’t just bring everything with you to the Moon or Mars. If something breaks, you have to find a way to fix it with what you have.”
The material is being tested in Glenn’s Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig for extreme temperature resistance and will be flown on the upcoming Materials International Space Station Experiment 23 (MISSE‑23) mission for exposure to space conditions. Funding comes from NASA Glenn’s 2026 Center Innovation Fund, managed by the agency’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate.
Key facts
- NASA’s Glenn Research Center created a biodegradable plastic reinforced with simulated lunar and Martian dust. (nasa.gov)
- The material is being tested for extreme temperatures and will fly on the MISSE‑23 mission. (nasa.gov)
- Research is funded by NASA Glenn’s 2026 Center Innovation Fund. (nasa.gov)
Sources
- [1] nasa.gov — originally reported as “Under the Microscope: NASA-Made Material for Moon Manufacturing”
