The Investigation of Plume-Regolith Interaction and Dust Dispersal during Chang’E-5 Descent Stage

Abstract

The plume-surface interaction that occurs as a result of a variable-thrust engine exhaust plume impinging on soil during landings is critical for future lunar mission design. Unique lunar environmental properties, such as low gravity, high vacuum, and the regolith layer, make this study complex and challenging. In this paper, we build a reliable simulation model, with constraints based on landing photos, to characterize the erosion properties induced by a low-thrust engine plume. We focus on the low-thrust plume-surface erosion process and erosion properties during the Chang’E-5 mission, aiming to determine the erosion difference between high- and low-thrust conditions; this is a major concern, as the erosion process for a low-thrust lunar mission is rarely studied. First, to identify the entire erosion process and its relative effect on the flat lunar surface, a one-to-one rocket nozzle simulation model is built; ground experimental results are utilized to verify the simulated inlet parameters of the vacuum plume flow field. Following that, plume flow is considered using the finite volume method, and the Roberts erosion model, based on excess shear stress, is adopted to describe plume-surface interaction properties. Finally, a Lagrangian framework using the discrete phase model is selected to investigate the dynamic properties of lunar dust particles. Results show that erosion depth, total ejected mass, and the maximum particle incline angle during the Chang’E-5 landing period are approximately 0.2 cm, 335.95 kg, and 4.16°, respectively. These results are not only useful for the Chang’E-5 lunar sample analysis, but also for future lunar mission design.

Extensive Lunar Surface Disturbance at the Chang'e‐5 Mission Landing Site: Implications for Future Lunar Base Design and Construction

“…Figures 4a and 4b), indicating that the plume impingement effects of the surface liftoff are probably comparable with or even more significant than that of the lunar landing. We propose the following as a plausible interpretation: though the main landing engine is over two times more powerful than the main ascent engine (7,500 vs. 3,000 N maximum thrust), the landing engine might only operate at a lower power when the lander approached the lunar surface (Zhang et al., 2022), while the ascent engine should have operated at its full capacity to lift and accelerate the ascent stage rapidly, thus having a much more significant effect on the disturbance and removal of lunar surface materials.…”

A New Force Control Method by Combining Traditional PID Control with Radial Basis Function Neural Network for a Spacecraft Low-Gravity Simulation System

“…When the constant-tension system is disturbed by the acceleration of the load, it will follow the load and keep the tension constant. Therefore, in the simulation, we give the system a value of 0.1 m/s 2 Step acceleration signal at 3 s. In the existing system, the acceleration of the load will fluctuate around 0.1 m/s 2 due to the influence of many factors, including frame vibration and torque fluctuation. Therefore, we added band-limited white noise.…”

“…Because the working environment of a spacecraft leaving the Earth is relatively harsh, researchers could not accurately grasp the spacecraft dynamics behavior in their practical work. Therefore, establishing an effective micro/low-gravity environment simulation system on the ground for the physical simulation of spacecraft will provide favorable conditions for space technology development [1,2]. In this article, in order to analyze the performance of high-precision mechanical devices with a mass of 10 to 100 kg in space, such as the motion and mechanical characteristics of small space robots in space, and the reliability of small and medium-sized equipment in space stations, a low gravity simulation system was established on the ground to simulate the low gravity environment in space.…”

Mechanical Characteristics of Lunar Regolith Drilling and Coring and Its Crawling Phenomenon: Analysis and Validation

“…China's Chang'e V probe has used a surface sampling manipulator and a drilling sampling device to obtain surface and profile samples of the moon, respectively. After being sealed, the sample is carried back to the earth by a returner, enriching the variety of lunar regolith samples owned by humans [13][14][15][16].…”