Review of dust transport and mitigation technologies in lunar and Martian atmospheres

Afshar-Mohajer, Nima; Wu, Chang-Yu; Curtis, Jennifer; Gaier, James R.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2015.06.007

Cited by 66 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…Up to now, only a few results about lunar dust deposition rate on the lunar surface can be available from previous works to compare with our value (Hollick & O'Brien, ; Rennilson & Criswell, ). According to the prevailing viewpoint, the two dominant natural factors accounting for dust transport and deposition on the lunar surface, what are SQCM interested in, are micrometeoroid impacts and electrostatic transport (Afshar‐Mohajer et al, ). The lunar dust deposition rate induced by micrometeoroid impacts, including primary and secondary impacts, on lunar surface was estimated to be ~10 μg/cm 2 /year (Katzan & Edwards, ).…”

Section: In Situ Measurement Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is well known that the Moon's atmosphere is extremely tenuous even though its surface is surrounded by a permanent, asymmetric dust cloud originating from the high speed micrometeoroid bombardments (Colwell et al, 2007;Horányi et al, 2015;Stern, 1999;Szalay & Horányi, 2015a;Wooden et al, 2016). On the lunar surface, dust movement can be induced by natural and anthropogenic causes such as sunrise/sunset (Grün et al, 2011;O'Brien & Hollick, 2015), astronaut/robotic activities (O'Brien, 2011), rocket launch/landing (O'Brien, 2009), solar wind (Afshar-Mohajer et al, 2015), micrometeoroid collision (Horányi et al, 2015;Szalay & Horányi, 2016;Wooden et al, 2016), and some other mechanisms not yet identified (Katzan & Edwards, 1991), which could lead to a series of detrimental problems for exploration activities, astronaut health and even mission success. For instance, the lunar passive seismometer onboard Apollo 11 was prematurely terminated by ground command as it was contaminated with dust and debris caused by the lunar module ascent rocket exhausts and overheated and failed subsequently (O'Brien, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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In Situ Measurements of Lunar Dust at the Chang'E‐3 Landing Site in the Northern Mare Imbrium

et al. 2019

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Lunar dust is regarded as the most crucial environmental problem on the Moon, and related research has crucially important scientific and technological interests. Here, we first reported the in situ measurements of lunar dust at the Chang'E‐3 landing site in the northern Mare Imbrium using temperature‐controlled sticky quartz crystal microbalance. The results showed that a total deposition mass at a height of 190 cm above the lunar surface during 12 lunar daytimes in the northern Mare Imbrium was about 0.0065 mg/cm2, corresponding to an annual deposition rate of ~21.4 μg/cm2, which is comparable with that of Apollo's result to some extent. The present researches are strategically important for future human and robotic lunar expeditions, and can provide a valuable reference for the design of dust protection for onboard payloads long‐term exposure to the lunar environment.

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Section: In Situ Measurement Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Situ Measurements of Lunar Dust at the Chang'E‐3 Landing Site in the Northern Mare Imbrium

et al. 2019

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“…As reported from the Apollo missions, dust particles can readily stick to all surfaces, such as spacesuits, optical and thermal systems and components. A number of problems during the Apollo missions have been attributed to dust loading [Afshar-Mohajer et al, 2015], including damage to spacesuits due to the abrasiveness of lunar dust, degradation of radiators, issues with thermal control systems and retroreflectors, and interference with hatch seals and Extravehicular Activity (EVA) systems. In addition, dust brought back to living quarters could lead to serious health risks if inhaled by astronauts over long durations.…”

Section: Dust Hazards To Future Surface Explorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrostatic Dust Transport Effects on Shaping the Surface Properties of the Moon and Airless Bodies across the Solar System

Wang

Blewett

Kramer

et al. 2021

Bulletin of the AAS

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Electrostatic dust charging and subsequent transport on the lunar surface due to direct exposure to the solar wind plasma and solar radiation is a more than five-decade-old problem. Dust activity has been suggested as an explanation for several lunar surface observations from the beginning in the Apollo era. Beyond the Moon, related observations indicate that this electrostatic process may be a universal phenomenon on airless bodies across the solar system. Recent studies have made important breakthroughs in understanding the fundamentals of dust charging, mobilization and lofting mechanisms, offering strong support for its occurrence on the surfaces of airless bodies. This white paper reviews historical and recent observational evidence, reports recent findings, examines knowledge gaps and outstanding science questions, and provides recommendations for future studies. Special attention is given to in situ measurements over the next decade in order to ultimately solve the outstanding questions and, more importantly, understand the primary implications for the evolution of the surfaces of the Moon and other airless bodies across the solar system. Furthermore, potential risks posed by electrostatic dust transport to future surface exploration of these bodies, especially any long-term human presence on the lunar surface, needs to be well characterized in order to define and implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies and methods through proper systems design and testing.

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“…Similar considerations are applicable to the extreme charging cases treated in this paper, where it is however expected that dust mobilization or differential charging of objects would be stronger. Note that mobilized dust is potentially a serious concern for human lunar operations because of its tendency to stick to surfaces and several methods to clean surfaces from accumulated dust are being pursued (Afshar-Mohajer et al, 2015).…”

Section: Charging Across the Sunlight Terminatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Impulsive Solar-Energetic-Electron (SEE) Events Drive High-Voltage Charging Events on the Nightside of the Moon?

Borovsky

Delzanno

2021

Front. Astron. Space Sci.

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When the Earth’s moon is in the supersonic solar wind, the darkside of the Moon and the lunar plasma wake can be very dangerous charging environments. In the absence of photoelectron emission (dark) and in the absence of cool plasma (wake), the emission or collection of charge to reduce electrical potentials is difficult. Unique extreme charging events may occur during impulsive solar-energetic-electron (SEE) events when the lunar wake is dominated by relativistic electrons, with the potential to charge and differentially charge objects on and above the lunar surface to very-high negative electrical potentials. In this report the geometry of the magnetic connections from the Sun to the lunar nightside are explored; these magnetic connections are the pathways for SEEs from the Sun. Rudimentary charging calculations for objects in the relativistic-electron environment of the lunar wake are performed. To enable these charging calculations, secondary-electron yields for impacts by relativistic electrons are derived. Needed lunar electrical-grounding precautions for SEE events are discussed. Calls are made 1) for future dynamic simulations of the plasma wake in the presence of time-varying SEE-event relativistic electrons and time-varying solar-wind magnetic-field orientations and 2) for future charging calculations in the relativistic-electron wake environment and on the darkside lunar surface.

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Review of dust transport and mitigation technologies in lunar and Martian atmospheres

Cited by 66 publications

References 93 publications

In Situ Measurements of Lunar Dust at the Chang'E‐3 Landing Site in the Northern Mare Imbrium

In Situ Measurements of Lunar Dust at the Chang'E‐3 Landing Site in the Northern Mare Imbrium

Electrostatic Dust Transport Effects on Shaping the Surface Properties of the Moon and Airless Bodies across the Solar System

Do Impulsive Solar-Energetic-Electron (SEE) Events Drive High-Voltage Charging Events on the Nightside of the Moon?

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