R.J.B. Cordero, J. Bibik
MelaTech, Maryland, United States
Keywords: radiation shielding, thermal coatings, space resilience, satellite protection, extreme cold
Radiation exposure, electromagnetic interference, and extreme environments remain persistent challenges for the U.S. defense enterprise—from space and aerospace operations to polar deployments and contested communication domains. Conventional shielding and protective materials are often constrained by weight, scalability, and limited multifunctionality. Melanin, the biological pigment best known for protecting our skin against ultraviolet radiation, is emerging as a strategic, bio-derived material with transformative potential for defense. In a recent study (PNAS, 2025) we demonstrated that melanin-infused composites show enhanced structural integrity and radiation resistance after 18 months of exposure in low Earth orbit aboard the ISS. Beyond spaceflight, melanin’s unique broadband absorption (200–2000 nm) enables applications as an electromagnetic obscurant, thermal insulator, and passive solar heat-harvesting material—capabilities directly relevant to defense operations. Through MelaTech LLC, we have advanced proprietary fermentation methods for scalable melanin production and translation into deployable coatings, polymers, and biocomposites. Funded by Army STTR Phase I/II and NASA SBIR Phase I programs, we are unlocking melanin’s dual-use potential to protect satellites, extend endurance in polar regions, shield electronics, and safeguard personnel from adversarial and environmental threats. By harnessing nature’s most successful protective mechanism, we aim to establish melanin as a cornerstone of next-generation defense resilience.