Traditional aerospace materials have served well in past missions, but their limitations in adaptability, reconfigurability, and performance in extraterrestrial environments necessitate a paradigm shift toward next-generation materials that can be precisely engineered to meet mission-specific demands.

2D materials, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), emerge as strong candidates to address these challenges due to their exceptional mechanical strength, high conductivity, radiation tolerance, and tunable optical and electronic properties. These materials can play a critical role in advancing key technologies for durability, crew health, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), power systems, and robotics. Their application extends to radiation-resistant coatings that enhance the longevity of spacecraft and habitats, antimicrobial and biosensing materials for crew health monitoring, and dust-repellent surfaces to mitigate the adhesion of lunar and Martian regolith on equipment and spacesuits. Crew safety remains one of the most pressing concerns for long-duration missions, particularly regarding real-time health monitoring and the prevention of exposure to space hazards. Wearable electronics integrated into astronaut suits could provide continuous biometric monitoring, tracking vital signs such as heart rate, hydration levels, stress markers, and radiation exposure. Graphene-based flexible sensors, thanks to their high electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility, could be embedded into space suits to enable real-time diagnostics, improving astronaut safety and reducing medical risks in isolated deep-space environments. Additionally, graphene oxide-based antimicrobial coatings could mitigate microbial contamination inside space habitats and life support systems, reducing the risk of infections in enclosed environments.

Furthermore, 2D materials hold the potential to improve oxygen extraction processes from regolith, lightweight composites for space construction, and high-performance energy storage solutions such as graphene-enhanced solar cells, next-generation batteries, and supercapacitors. These advances align with the necessity for self- sufficient, sustainable space missions that reduce reliance on Earth-based resources. Despite these promising prospects, the integration of 2D materials into space applications is still in its early stages. There is a lack of established knowledge on how these materials behave under space radiation, vacuum, microgravity, and extreme thermal fluctuations compared to conventional space-qualified materials such as aluminum-lithium alloys, titanium, and Kevlar. The uncertainties surrounding their long-term stability, mechanical resilience under cyclic stress, and compatibility with existing spacecraft systems need to be addressed through systematic material testing, modeling, and validation.

To accelerate the adoption of 2D materials for space applications, a material-by- design approach is essential. This approach leverages advanced computational modeling, high-throughput simulations, and AI-driven material discovery to tailor materials at the atomic and molecular scale for specific mission needs. Instead of relying solely on experimental trial-and-error, material-by-design integrates multiscale modeling, machine learning, and generative algorithms to predict material behavior in space environments before real-world testing. This will allow for the rapid identification and optimization of 2D material-based coatings, structural composites, and electronic components suited for future space missions. By implementing this strategy, space agencies can shorten material development cycles, reduce costs, and ensure that space-ready 2D materials meet the rigorous demands of deep-space exploration.

The integration of 2D materials into space exploration is not just a scientific opportunity but a strategic necessity for achieving the ambitious goals outlined in ESA Vision 2040 and NASA’s Artemis and Mars missions. By bridging knowledge gaps and embracing a material-by-design approach, these materials could become the building blocks of self-sustaining, adaptable, and resilient space technologies, ensuring enhanced crew safety, real-time astronaut health monitoring, and the development of multifunctional, lightweight materials to support the next era of human and robotic exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.