November 07, 2006

Lunar explorers face moon dust dilemma

As NASA planners gear up to replant astronauts on the lunar surface before 2020, scientists and engineers are grappling with how best to certify a safe and productive stay for 21st-century moonwalkers.
...
Halekas recounted a technical debrief by Apollo 17's Gene Cernan after his 1972 Moon voyage.
Cernan said that "one of the most aggravating, restricting facets of lunar surface exploration is the dust and its adherence to everything no matter what kind ... and its restrictive friction-like action to everything it gets on." The astronaut added: "You have to live with it but you're continually fighting the dust problem both outside and inside the spacecraft."
...
Dust adhesion is likely increased by the angular barbed shapes of lunar dust, found to quickly and effectively coat all surfaces it comes into contact with. Additionally, that clinging is possibly due to electrostatic charging, Halekas explained.
...
Countering the pervasive nature of the dust, however, will take some doing- specifically if the lunar landscape is to be reworked with resource-processing paraphernalia and dotted with living quarters.
Habitats will need to be overpressurized to account for inevitable leaks, especially around entrances, Taylor suggested. Fine particles of dust suspended in electrostatic levitation around the Moon, he pointed out, would need to be dealt with so as not to muck up lunar-based astronomy of the surrounding cosmos.

Sign me up, I'm sick of this place.

3 comments:

Margaret said...

Sounds like lunar dust may be formed much like our snow. Which often sticks to everything for the same formation reasons. Our plus, is that snow melts!

Really, wanna go study dust? LOL! I'm ready to go out housecleaning today and dust is my evil nemesis.

Candace said...

Ugh. Dusting.

Anonymous said...

Me too!