NASA & Case Western Reserve to Light First Fire on the Moon
For the first time in history, NASA will intentionally set fire on the lunar surface—inside a sealed chamber, under the watchful eye of sensors and cameras.
NASA, in collaboration with researchers from Case Western Reserve University, is preparing to conduct the first controlled fire experiment on the Moon. The project, named the Flammability of Materials on the Moon (FM2) experiment, is designed to study how solid materials burn in the Moon’s partial gravity environment.
Background
Current standards for certifying materials for spaceflight, such as NASA-STD-6001B, are based on tests conducted in Earth’s gravity. Scientists have observed that these tests do not always accurately predict material behavior in space.
On Earth, gravity-driven convection affects how flames spread and can lead to a self-extinguishing condition known as "blowoff." In microgravity environments, such as the International Space Station, flames form spherical shapes and are influenced primarily by ventilation systems.
Previous research into flame behavior in reduced gravity includes the Spacecraft Fire Safety (Saffire) experiments conducted in uncrewed cargo capsules, as well as short-duration tests in drop towers and parabolic flights.
Experiment Design
The FM2 experiment will be delivered to the lunar surface via a Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) mission. The test will take place inside a sealed combustion chamber.
Four solid fuel samples will be ignited, and researchers will monitor the combustion process using cameras, radiometers, and oxygen sensors. The experiment is expected to collect several minutes of combustion data in the sustained partial gravity of the Moon, which is approximately one-sixth of Earth’s gravity.
Key variables under observation include flame spread, temperature, heat radiation, and oxygen levels.
Implications
Data collected from the FM2 experiment may be used to update NASA's material safety standards for spacecraft and habitats. The results are expected to inform safety protocols for astronauts on future crewed missions to the Moon and, eventually, for missions to Mars.
The findings from this tiny fire could rewrite the rules on how we build and certify everything from astronaut suits to life support systems for deep space exploration.