NASA's Dry-Cryogenic Rig Tests Moon-Ready Materials

NASA’s Glenn Research Center introduced the Lunar Environment Structural Test Rig (LESTR), a dry, liquid-free cryogenic testing system that uses a cryocooler to reach 40 Kelvin, enabling safe, affordable testing of materials and hardware for Moon and Mars missions—testing things like advanced spacesuit fabrics and shape-memory alloys for rovers. LESTR 1 is in use and LESTR 2 is under construction, with partners such as Fort Wayne Metals.