DM and Env Material Solutions (DME MS-TASK)

Lunar and Martian dust present formidable challenges for surface technologies due to sharp, abrasive, and electrostatically charged particles that degrade materials more aggressively than terrestrial dust. The Dust Mitigation and Environmental Material Solutions (DMEMS) initiative establishes a systematic framework for identifying dust-tolerant and dust-mitigating materials capable of withstanding extreme extraterrestrial environments while maintaining operational integrity throughout mission lifetimes. DMEMS is developing standardized testing methods to evaluate dust effects on material performance. Building on existing standards, the initiative advances protocols that simulate dust interactions across multiple degradation modes, such as adhesion, abrasion, and erosion, relevant to applications from landing operations to extended surface missions. These methods target capturing the complex interplay between dust particles, vacuum conditions, extreme temperatures, and other environmental factors that influence material degradation to enable advancement of more standard dust test practices to expedite advancement of materials for dust mitigation technologies. The DMEMS effort applies these testing approaches to a wide range of materials, from fundamental formulations to commercially available solutions, including advanced coatings and composites, charge‑dissipative materials, softgoods, and multifunctional coatings. For each material class, DMEMS will define performance parameters to determine suitability for specific lunar applications. By implementing a tiered approach from laboratory screening to application‑specific environmental testing, the initiative will result in a robust testing pipeline for identifying optimal materials for dust mitigation in extreme extraterrestrial environments. Promising material candidates will progress from laboratory screening to increasingly realistic environmental tests and ultimately spaceflight exposure, resulting in high‑resolution datasets on material durability and performance under authentic environmental conditions. Ultimately, DMEMS will produce a comprehensive materials infusion catalogue mapping specific solutions to their most effective applications on lunar and Martian assets. Supported by standardized procedures, this catalogue will inform material selection based on mission requirements and environmental exposure profiles. By establishing these resources, DMEMS will accelerate the adoption of dust-tolerant materials, directly enabling sustainable exploration of the Moon and Mars while reducing mission risks and extending hardware lifetimes in challenging extraterrestrial environments.

Lunar and Martian dust represents one of the most significant challenges to sustainable exploration, threatening equipment reliability and mission success. The DMEMS initiative delivers essential benefits by advancing testing protocols and material qualification frameworks currently lacking in the space industry. A primary benefit of DMEMS is the advancement of more routine dust test protocols adaptable across various material classes and surface applications. These more standardized methods will enable consistent evaluation of materials across facilities, accelerating technology development and reducing redundant testing efforts. DMEMS will also produce an infusion catalogue mapping specific materials to their potential optimal applications on lunar and Martian assets. This resource will help guide designers in selecting appropriate dust-mitigating and dust-tolerant materials based on specific environmental exposure profiles and performance requirements. The initiative will deliver recommendations for material selection for dust applications, providing a framework for evaluating dust tolerance. By defining operational constraints for various materials in relevant application environments, DMEMS will enable informed decision making about materials selection, ultimately extending technology lifetimes and enhancing mission capabilities in the challenging dusty environments of extraterrestrial surfaces.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.