- NASA plans an experiment called "Flammability of Materials on the Moon " (FM2) to intentionally set fire to materials on the lunar surface .
- The experiment aims to understand how flames behave in lunar gravity, which differs from Earth's, to enhance safety for future crewed Artemis missions to Mars and beyond.
- Materials that are not flammable on Earth might burn at lower oxygen concentrations in lunar gravity, posing a potential hazard for astronauts.
- A robotic, self-contained combustion chamber will be sent to the moon, carrying test samples of cotton, fiberglass, and acrylic rods to be ignited and observed.
- Sensors and cameras within the chamber will record fire behavior, spread rate, and oxygen levels, with the mission potentially launching later this year.
IN FULL
NASA wants to light a fire on the moon – but it’s for science
