Material Flammability in Lunar Gravity

The Material Flammability in Lunar Gravity experiment will assess the flammability of solid materials in lunar and Martian gravity. Researchers expect to burn multiple samples in a variety of atmospheres to record flame images, radiant emissions, temperatures, and product gas concentrations. These moderate-duration flammability tests aim to provide guidance for rating the many materials anticipated to be used on the Moon and Mars. As humans prepare for deep space exploration, it is crucial to understand material flammability and its impact on spacecraft and habitats.

Summary of Flight Test
2025-02-04 The LUCI project achieved the first-ever, extended duration combustion tests (greater than 25 seconds) in simulated Lunar gravity. The results are applicable to NASA’s exploration efforts in that they guide the selection of fire-safe materials and environments and ensure safety of future spacecraft and Lunar habitats. The data also provides fundamental understanding of fires burning at reduced gravity for comparison to sophisticated numerical models. Finally, the experiment is a steppingstone to the ultimate goal of performing burn tests on the Lunar surface in the Flammability of Materials on the Moon (FM2 ) experiment which will fly on a SpaceX Human Lander System unmanned test flight.

The moderate-duration Material Flammability in Lunar Gravity tests aim to provide guidance for rating the many materials anticipated to be used on the Moon and Mars. This experiment will assess the flammability of solid materials in lunar and Martian gravity by allowing researchers to burn multiple samples in a variety of atmospheres and record flame images, radiant emissions, temperatures, and product gas concentrations. As humans prepare for deep space exploration, it is crucial to understand material flammability and its impact on spacecraft and habitats. This has the potential to benefit NASA missions and the commercial space industry.

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