First synthesis of glasses from Martian regolith simulants

In this study, we explored for the first time the glass-forming ability of Martian regolith simulants using the melt-quenching process in a resistive furnace under ambient air, assessing their potential for ISRU-based glass production in space exploration. Dark-colored glasses were successfully synthesized for four different compositions. The glassy state is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and characteristic thermal events, observed in differential scanning calorimetry. The glass compositions were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, indicating minimal loss compared to the original regolith simulant minerals. The thermal and physical parameters were consistent with literature on silicate glasses. Raman spectroscopy revealed different structural conformations among the various glass compositions. Reflectance and photoacoustic measurements showed very strong absorption through UV to NIR (250-1200 nm). The analyzes revealed low UV reflectances (approximately 5%), while visible and infrared differences certainly arise from compositional variations that affect optical properties and coloration. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of producing glass from Martian soil, shedding light on new possibilities for future challenges and research in the space exploration field.