A new NASA study is putting future astronaut gear to the test—right on the Martian surface—with the help of the Perseverance rover.
At left is NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, with a circle indicating the location of the calibration target for the rover’s SHERLOC instrument. At right is a close-up of the calibration target. Along the bottom row are five swatches of spacesuit materials that scientists are studying as they de-grade. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
In a recent article, researchers detailed how the Perseverance rover is helping evaluate the durability of spacesuit materials under Mars’s extreme environmental conditions. These tests are designed to simulate what future astronauts’ gear will face—from high radiation levels and abrasive dust to freezing temperatures. Early findings are already shaping the design of safer, longer-lasting suits for human missions.
Five different materials are currently being tested by SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals), an advanced instrument aboard the rover. After just 200 days, researchers observed notable degradation—underscoring the urgency of developing materials that can withstand the Martian elements. This research is a critical step in bridging planetary science and astronaut safety.
Background: Preparing for Mars
Since its landing in 2021, Perseverance has tackled multiple scientific objectives—most notably, searching for signs of ancient life and studying the planet’s geology. But behind the headlines, the rover is also quietly supporting a vital goal: preparing for human exploration.
To that end, Perseverance carries five common spacesuit materials; polycarbonate, Vectran, Teflon, and Ortho-Fabric, all mounted on SHERLOC’s calibration target. These materials are exposed directly to the Martian environment, enduring intense ultraviolet radiation, reactive dust particles, and extreme cold. Among them, Vectran, used in the palms of spacesuit gloves, has shown the fastest rate of wear.
By monitoring how these materials respond to Mars’s conditions over time, scientists hope to refine future spacesuit designs, boosting durability and ensuring astronaut safety during extended surface missions. The study also contributes to NASA’s broader Moon-to-Mars exploration strategy.
Facing Mars’s Harsh Environment
Mars presents a uniquely hostile setting for both humans and their equipment. Without a protective magnetic field, the surface is bombarded with intense solar radiation. Fine dust clings to every surface and acts as an abrasive agent, while perchlorate salts introduce toxic and corrosive hazards. On top of that, surface temperatures often plunge well below freezing.
According to SHERLOC’s data, nearly half of the material degradation occurred within the rover’s first 200 days on the surface. Vectran, in particular, degraded more rapidly than anticipated. To better understand these results, researchers are comparing the Mars data with Earth-based simulations that replicate conditions like high ultraviolet exposure and the planet’s carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.
This comparison allows scientists to identify vulnerable areas on a suit—for instance, the shoulders tend to receive more radiation exposure than gloves. These insights help pinpoint weak spots and inform targeted reinforcement, ultimately extending suit longevity for future missions.
Shaping the Next Generation of Spacesuits
The materials research conducted on Mars is already feeding into next-gen suit development. Take Ortho-Fabric, for example—a layered material made from Nomex, Gore-Tex, and Kevlar. It’s designed to strike a balance between flexibility and durability. However, early data suggests that prolonged UV exposure can weaken its structure, increasing the risk of rips that could jeopardize temperature regulation and air retention.
To complement the Mars findings, NASA’s Johnson Space Center is conducting parallel tests on Earth, measuring how materials stretch and become brittle over time. These results will help guide material selection—for example, emphasizing Teflon coatings that better resist dust or incorporating radiation-shielding composites for enhanced protection.
This work aligns closely with the Artemis program, which uses lunar missions as testbeds for Mars. The ultimate goal is to build suits capable of supporting astronauts through long-duration missions on the Red Planet.
A Broader Mission with Dual Objectives
While testing spacesuit materials, Perseverance continues its core science mission—searching for signs of ancient microbial life and collecting rock samples for NASA’s Mars Sample Return Program, a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). At the same time, the rover studies Mars’s climate and geology, generating valuable data that supports NASA’s larger Moon-to-Mars initiative.
Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the rover embodies a dual-purpose mission: pushing the boundaries of planetary science while laying the groundwork for human exploration.
Conclusion
Perseverance’s spacesuit material experiments mark a crucial advance in preparing for human exploration of Mars. By tracking real-time degradation in some of the most punishing environmental conditions imaginable, scientists can better predict suit lifespan and refine design choices. The data underscores just how demanding Mars will be, and why it’s essential to engineer gear that can endure.
From radiation protection to dust resistance and structural durability, these findings are helping NASA build suits that can go the distance. As the agency pushes forward with its Moon-to-Mars vision, this kind of research ensures future astronauts will be well-equipped to take on the Red Planet.
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