Recently, the goal of space exploration has shifted from the incognito of the solar system to the Moon. Concepts like human permanence on the Moon and thermal protective structures made with ISRU (in situ resource utilization) of raw materials have started to be implemented. By limiting the need to launch supplies from the Earth, the paradigm of spaceflight is changed, privileging the vanguard of the utilisation of resources in situ. Still, the main challenges of surviving the radiation dose and the cryogenic temperatures of the lunar night remain. Recent studies have demonstrated how innovative composite materials can help reduce the temperature stress on exploration vehicles. This research presents the material properties of aerogel insulating materials combined with LHS (lunar highlands simulant) regolith obtained by freeze frying. Organic-based aerogels with different percentages of LHS have been analysed in terms of material, morphology, and thermal properties.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) possesses desirable properties for numerous applications. However, LIG formation on biocompatible substrates is needed to further augment the integration of LIG-based technologies into nanobiotechnology. Here, LIG formation on cross-linked sodium alginate is reported. The LIG is systematically investigated, providing a comprehensive understanding of the physicochemical characteristics of the material. Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques confirm the successful generation of oxidized graphene on the surface of cross-linked sodium alginate. The influence of laser parameters and the amount of crosslinker incorporated into the alginate substrate is explored, revealing that lower laser speed, higher resolution, and increased CaCl₂ content leads to LIG with lower electrical resistance. These findings could have significant implications for the fabrication of LIG on alginate with tailored conductive properties, but they could also play a guiding role for LIG formation on other biocompatible substrates.

Periodically, the European Space Agency (ESA) updates scientific roadmaps in consultation with the scientific community. The ESA SciSpacE Science Community White Paper (SSCWP) 9, “Biology in Space and Analogue Environments”, focusses in 5 main topic areas, aiming to address key community-identified knowledge gaps in Space Biology. Here we present one of the identified topic areas, which is also an unanswered question of life science research in Space: “How to Obtain an Integrated Picture of the Molecular Networks Involved in Adaptation to Microgravity in Different Biological Systems?” The manuscript reports the main gaps of knowledge which have been identified by the community in the above topic area as well as the approach the community indicates to address the gaps not yet bridged. Moreover, the relevance that these research activities might have for the space exploration programs and also for application in industrial and technological fields on Earth is briefly discussed.

Exposure to altered gravity influences cellular behaviour in cell cultures. Hydrogels are amongst the most common materials used to produce tissue-engineering scaffolds, and their mechanical properties play a crucial role in cell-matrix interaction. However, little is known about the influence of altered gravity on hydrogel properties. Here we study the mechanical properties of Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and PEGDA incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) by performing tensile tests in micro and hypergravity during a Parabolic flight campaign, and by comparing them to the same tests performed in Earth gravity. We show that gravity levels do not result in a statistically significant difference in Young’s modulus.

Ice formation on aircraft surfaces poses significant safety risks, and current detection systems often struggle to provide accurate, real-time predictions. This paper presents the development and comprehensive evaluation of a smart ice control system using a suite of machine learning models. The system utilizes various sensors to detect temperature anomalies and signal potential ice formation. We trained and tested supervised learning models (Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest), unsupervised learning models (K-Means Clustering), and neural networks (Multilayer Perceptron) to predict and identify ice formation patterns. The experimental results demonstrate that our smart system, driven by machine learning, accurately predicts ice formation in real time, optimizes deicing processes, and enhances safety while reducing power consumption. This solution holds the potential for improving ice detection accuracy in aviation and other critical industries requiring robust predictive maintenance.

Recent discoveries of potential ice particles and ice-cemented regolith on extraterrestrial bodies like the Moon and Mars have opened new opportunities for developing technologies to extract water, facilitating future space missions and activities on these extraterrestrial body surfaces. This study explores the potential for water extraction from regolith through an experiment designed to test water recuperation from regolith simulant under varying gravitational conditions. The resultant water vapor extracted from the regolith is re-condensed on a substrate surface and collected in liquid form. Three types of substrates, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and grooved, are explored. The system’s functionality was assessed during a parabolic flight campaign simulating three distinct gravity levels: microgravity, lunar gravity, and Martian gravity. Our findings reveal that the hydrophobic surface demonstrates the highest efficiency due to drop-wise condensation, and lower gravity levels result in increased water condensation on the substrates. The experiments aimed to understand the performance of specific substrates under lunar, Martian, and microgravity conditions, providing an approach for in-situ water recovery, which is crucial for establishing economically sustainable water supplies for future missions. To enhance clarity and readability, in this paper, “H₂O” will be referred to as “water”.