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Image Credit: Universe Today
NASA is Developing Solutions for Lunar Housekeeping’s Biggest Problem: Dust!
- NASA is developing technologies to mitigate the challenges that arise from the nature of the lunar environment, including the issue of lunar regolith (aka moondust).
- NASA is developing seven experiments to test during a flight test using a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket to evaluate their ability to mitigate lunar dust buildup.
- Lunar regolith is jagged, abrasive to any surface that it comes in contact with, ranging from spacesuits and equipment to human skin, eyes, and lungs.
- The fine grain nature of dust contains particles that are smaller than the human eye can see, making a contaminated surface appear to look clean.
- NASA’s Game Changing Development program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) developed these technologies.
- The payload includes projects for mitigating and cleaning dust using multiple strategies.
- Learning some of the fundamental properties of how lunar dust behaves and how lunar dust impacts systems has implications far beyond dust mitigation and environments.
- The data obtained by these projects will allow mission planners and designers to develop better strategies for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
- The test flight and vehicle enhancements that will enable the simulation of lunar gravity are being funded through NASA’s Flight Opportunities program.
- These experiments will tackle the problem of moondust mitigation for future permanent lunar habitats
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