Overview
- NASA unveiled the Flammability of Materials on the Moon experiment at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
- The payload is slated to fly in late 2026 on a Commercial Lunar Payload Services lander.
- A sealed chamber will ignite four solid samples while cameras, radiometers, and oxygen sensors capture minutes of flame data.
- Researchers predict flame spread could peak in lunar-like partial gravity, raising risk compared with microgravity or Earth.
- The data are meant to validate models and update material, suit, and habitat standards after Saffire and short drop tests exposed gaps in Earth-based screening.