NASA to Conduct First-Ever Fire Experiment on the Moon in 2026

NASA’s Lunar Fire Experiment: A Critical Step for Future Moon Habitats

NASA scientists have spent years studying how fire behaves in microgravity, conducting controlled flame tests aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft to assess flame spread and material flammability in zero gravity. Now, the agency is taking this research further by planning the first-ever fire experiment on the Moon’s surface.

Detailed in a document presented at a recent planetary science conference and spotted by Universe Today, the experiment—dubbed Flammability of Materials on the Moon (FM2)—will challenge existing fire safety standards. The goal is to determine whether materials deemed safe for spaceflight on Earth remain safe in the Moon’s partial gravity environment.

Testing Fire Safety Standards Designed for Earth

NASA’s current flammability standard, NASA-STD-6001B, evaluates materials by exposing them to a six-inch flame. If the flame spreads beyond six inches or drips burning debris, the material fails the test. This standard is required for all materials intended for use in space vehicles and ground support equipment.

However, the standard is based on tests conducted in Earth’s gravity (1G), with the assumption that materials passing this test will be safe for spaceflight. The Moon’s partial gravity—about one-sixth of Earth’s—could disrupt this assumption, potentially making materials more flammable than previously thought.

Why Partial Gravity Could Increase Fire Risks

On Earth, a phenomenon called blowoff occurs when fresh oxygen reintroduces itself to a sputtering flame, sustaining combustion. In partial gravity, this process may slow down, allowing flames to spread more easily. As a result, materials that are only marginally non-flammable on Earth could become highly flammable on the Moon.

Previous research using drop towers and sounding rockets—suborbital vehicles that carry scientific instruments into the atmosphere—has shown that partial gravity environments can increase the flammability limits for some materials. The oxygen-rich environments planned for future lunar and Martian habitats could further exacerbate fire risks, as higher oxygen levels can intensify combustion.

The FM2 Experiment: A First-of-Its-Kind Lunar Test

To study fire behavior in a lunar environment over an extended period, NASA proposes burning four solid fuel samples within small, habitable atmospheres on the Moon. The experiment is scheduled for a planned launch date of late 2026.

Key instruments, including cameras, radiometers, and an oxygen sensor, will measure flame spread, heat output, and oxygen consumption during the test. These data will provide critical insights into how fire behaves in the Moon’s unique conditions, helping engineers design safer habitats and spacecraft for future lunar missions.

Implications for Future Lunar and Martian Missions

The findings from FM2 could have far-reaching implications for NASA’s Artemis program and other lunar exploration efforts. Establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon will require robust fire safety protocols, particularly as habitats and spacecraft become more complex.

Understanding fire behavior in partial gravity is also essential for future missions to Mars, where similar challenges may arise. By addressing these risks now, NASA aims to ensure the safety of astronauts as they venture further into space.