How Chemistry is Revolutionising Space Exploration

The Science Behind the Conquest of Space

Travelling to space is not only a feat of engineering, but also an achievement of chemistry. Without it, rockets would not launch, astronauts would have no oxygen to breathe, and spacecraft would not withstand the extreme conditions of the cosmos. Every mission, from the earliest expeditions to the exploration of Mars, has relied on chemical advancements to make the impossible possible.

Thanks to this science, we have developed ultra-resistant materials, safer fuels, and technologies that allow humans to venture ever further. But chemistry does not only power rockets: it also helps us generate water and oxygen in space and search for signs of life on other planets. In this article, we explore how chemistry is shaping the future of space exploration.

The Key Role of Chemistry in Space Exploration

• More Efficient and Sustainable Fuels
  Propulsion is one of the greatest challenges in space exploration. Traditionally, fuels like hydrazine have been used, but their toxicity and risks have driven the search for safer and greener alternatives. Recent research has developed “green” propellants, such as hydrogen peroxide-based mixtures or ammonium compounds with a lower environmental impact, improving both launch efficiency and safety.
• Advanced Materials for Extreme Resistance
  Spacecraft and space suits must withstand extreme conditions: from temperatures ranging between -150 °C and 120 °C to cosmic radiation. Polymer chemistry has enabled the development of materials such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone)and advanced ceramic compounds, which are fundamental for building lighter and more resistant space structures.
• Oxygen Generation and Water Recycling
  Self-sufficiency is essential in space, and chemistry is key to systems that allow oxygen to be generated from carbon dioxide. One example is the Sabatier reaction, a chemical process in which CO₂ reacts with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst (usually nickel or ruthenium) to produce methane and water. This method, used on the International Space Station, allows potable water to be recovered from the CO₂ exhaled by astronauts, reducing the need for supplies from Earth.

Likewise, water purification systems use advanced catalysts and membranes to recycle every drop of water, ensuring crew survival during long-duration missions.

• Chemical Analysis in the Search for Life
  Space missions such as Perseverance on Marsuse mass spectrometers and chromatography techniques to analyse the chemical composition of the soil and atmosphere. The detection of organic molecules could indicate signs of past or present life on other planets. For these analyses, reference standardsand high-purity reagents, such as those offered by CymitQuimica, are essential in the laboratories developing this technology.

Chemistry Will Continue to Drive Our Journey into Space

Space exploration is not only a technological challenge, but also a triumph of chemistry. As we move towards more ambitious missions, such as the colonisation of the Moon or Mars, chemistry will remain a fundamental pillar in making space a more accessible and habitable environment. What seems like science fiction today will become reality tomorrow, driven by scientific innovation—demonstrating that the future of space exploration is, to a large extent, written in the language of chemistry.