Under a microscope, a new NASA-made material shows colorful, kaleidoscope-like crystal structures. Photos released Sept. 29 by NASA show two samples, one gray and one reddish, made from a special plastic mixed with simulated Moon and Mars dust.

The material, developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, could be created directly on the Moon or Mars. According to NASA, that could let missions pack fewer supplies, saving weight and reducing launch costs, and let crews build and repair equipment where they are instead of waiting for shipments from Earth.

The gray sample was made with mock Moon dust, and the reddish sample with mock Mars dust, according to NASA.

Plastic Grown Inside Bacteria

The key ingredient is a plastic that bacteria produce. NASA says the plastic is biodegradable and could be made by bacteria fed with crew waste or carbon dioxide.

"The plastic literally grows within the bacteria's little bodies," said Allison Christy, a research chemical engineer at NASA Glenn who led the work with summer interns Tyler Klinchuch, Ethan Bilodeau, and Emma Levenson. "It's really cool."

The team found that adding simulated lunar and Martian dust to the plastic made it stronger and easier to process. Changing the type and amount of dust let them adjust the material's properties, which means one basic recipe could be tuned for different uses.

NASA has not published strength figures or a peer-reviewed paper on the material. The results described so far come from the agency's image release, so the performance claims should be read as early laboratory findings.

From Brackets and Wrenches to Chairs

NASA says the material could be used to manufacture equipment inside future Moon or Mars habitats, such as structural brackets, wrenches, or chairs. The agency describes the approach as potentially enabling on-demand, fully recyclable fabrication with lunar surface material.

"You can't just bring everything with you to the Moon or Mars," Christy said. She added that if something breaks, crews have to find a way to fix it with what they have. "This is a very versatile material, which is a huge benefit."

That idea fits NASA's long-term plans under the Artemis program. NASA says this kind of manufacturing could help advance its objective of a permanent Moon Base by reducing resupply needs and letting crews build and repair essential equipment on site. Using local materials on the Moon is a recurring theme in the agency's lunar research, including recent work mapping where ice could last near the Moon's poles.

Heat, Cold, and Space Station Trials

So far, NASA has described the material for use inside habitats. The team hopes to find out whether it could also be used outside, in the harsh environments of the lunar or Martian surface.

The material is now being tested in Glenn's Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig to see how it holds up in extreme temperatures. Several samples are also slated to launch on the upcoming Materials International Space Station Experiment 23 mission, known as MISSE-23, where they will be exposed to harsh conditions outside the International Space Station. NASA's release did not give a launch date for MISSE-23.

Those tests will show whether the material holds up under the temperature extremes and exposure it would face beyond a habitat. A material that performs well indoors may still crack or degrade outside, which is why NASA is testing it before making any claims about surface use.

The research is funded through NASA Glenn's 2026 Center Innovation Fund, which is managed by the agency's Research and Technology Mission Directorate, according to NASA.

What Remains Unknown

The evidence so far is limited to laboratory samples, microscope imagery, and NASA's description of early results. There is no published strength data, no timeline for use on a mission, and no confirmation yet that the material will survive surface conditions. Those answers will depend on the environmental rig tests and the MISSE-23 exposure.

NASA's release does not claim the material will be used on Earth. Its stated purpose is manufacturing in space, where the combination of biological production, local ingredients, and recyclability could reduce how much crews need to bring from home.

What Readers Want to Know

What do the NASA microscope images show?

They show colorful, kaleidoscope-like crystal structures in two samples of a new material. The gray sample contains mock Moon dust, and the reddish sample contains mock Mars dust.

What is the material made of?

It combines a biodegradable plastic produced by bacteria with simulated lunar or Martian dust. NASA says the bacteria could be fed crew waste or carbon dioxide.

What could astronauts make with it?

NASA says it could be used for equipment inside habitats, such as structural brackets, wrenches, or chairs, through recyclable, on-demand fabrication.

Why does NASA want to make materials on the Moon?

Making equipment from local resources means packing fewer supplies, saving launch weight and cost, and letting crews repair things on site.

Has the material been tested in space?

Not yet. It is being tested in a Glenn facility that simulates extreme temperatures, and samples are slated to fly on the MISSE-23 mission outside the International Space Station.

Who developed it?

Research chemical engineer Allison Christy and a team of summer interns at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, with support from the center's 2026 Center Innovation Fund.