Lunar Dust will be a major problem for future missions and settlements on the Moon! It is microscopic, infiltrates every crack, accumulates in the smallest corners and sticks to all surfaces.
Lungs, skin, mechanical joints, bearings, lenses and reflective coatings all suffer.
Lungs, skin, mechanical joints, bearings, lenses and reflective coatings all suffer.
Most of lunar dust's danger is caused by the fact that it is extremely sharp and as hard as steel. It can cut into most materials, especially the lightweight ones optimized for spaceflight.
What is the solution to lunar dust? Here is a few:
What is the solution to lunar dust? Here is a few:
Tungsten Carbide coatings and micron nano-ridges.
The dust cannot scratch surfaces harder than it. Nano-ridges can be too small to allow the dust to make full contact with a surface, allowing it to be washed and cleaned.
The dust cannot scratch surfaces harder than it. Nano-ridges can be too small to allow the dust to make full contact with a surface, allowing it to be washed and cleaned.
Electrostatic charges and electron beams.
Lunar dust is stripped of electrons by the intense UV rays from the unfiltered sunlight that reaches to Moon. This charges it and makes it chemically reactive. Charged surfaces can repel the dust and electron beams can neutralize the dust
Lunar dust is stripped of electrons by the intense UV rays from the unfiltered sunlight that reaches to Moon. This charges it and makes it chemically reactive. Charged surfaces can repel the dust and electron beams can neutralize the dust
Wet seals.
Vacuum seals can be filled with a temperature and vacuum-resistant gel. It would prevent dust from travelling into and breaking seals. It would trap the dust instead, and allow it be removed by flushing out the gel with fresh material.
Vacuum seals can be filled with a temperature and vacuum-resistant gel. It would prevent dust from travelling into and breaking seals. It would trap the dust instead, and allow it be removed by flushing out the gel with fresh material.
Triple airlock/suitport.
A big problem during the Apollo missions was that astronauts would bring back large amounts of dust on their space suits. It would then enter when the inner airlock was opened. A second inner door or suitport, would give dust a much harder time entering.
A big problem during the Apollo missions was that astronauts would bring back large amounts of dust on their space suits. It would then enter when the inner airlock was opened. A second inner door or suitport, would give dust a much harder time entering.
