Multifunctional Structural Materials for Sustainable Human Exploration in Extreme Space Environments

Extreme space environments such as space vacuum, radiation, jagged lunar dust, microgravity, high thermal excursion, micrometeoroids, thrust plume ejecta, seismic events, and their synergistically-adverse effects make sustainable space exploration extremely challenging. More robust and sustainable advanced materials and structures are needed to protect crew and equipment to extend space missions longer and safer with minimum service and repair needs. Recent progress of NASA efforts on sustainable multifunctional structural materials will be introduced.