From Space waste to functional materials

Future missions to the Moon and Mars will need smarter ways to use resources and rely less on supplies from Earth. In a project funded by Europan Space Agency – ESA¹⁾ (The BioSTEP project)  RISE PFI contributed to explore how plant waste and used packaging from space missions could be turned into useful materials like nanocellulose and biocomposites. Plant-based resources could help provide food, produce oxygen, and even create new materials in space. As part of the project, CIRiS (https://ciris.no/) and RISE PFI researchers developed a roadmap for simplified production methods, including using nanocellulose in medical applications and 3D-printed parts.    ⁽¹⁾ Disclaimer: The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency