Fighting regolith: NASA is developing an electrodynamic shield against lunar dust

It looks a little like sand. When your foot hits the beach, it gets everywhere and is difficult to clean. Except that on the Moon, regolith—the layer of rock on the surface—contains particularly corrosive and abrasive dust. However, soon the astronauts will return to the Earth’s natural satellite. So NASA armed them with an electrodynamic shield.

The Artemis 3 mission promises to return humans to the Moon in 2026, nearly 60 years after the Apollo 11 mission. The goal of the mission is to conduct research to imagine human life on the star. This work should then be used for future colonization of Mars.

A shield equipped with electrodes that create an electric field.

But before considering a complete move, the American Space Agency (NASA) wanted to address the day-to-day challenges its teams would face on site: cleaning. Because during their research, expeditions or operations, the Artemis program astronauts will have to constantly deal with lunar dust.

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A prototype of an electrodynamic shield to combat lunar dust. NASA

That’s why researchers at Kennedy Space Center in Florida have developed an electrodynamic dust shield (EDS). This is a shield equipped with electrodes that are supposed to create an electric field. When activated, dust rises and can be easily removed from surfaces. The electromagnetic waves it produces act like a kind of invisible broom, New Atlas points out.

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The tool is promised to be used for cleaning suits, from boots to visors, as well as equipment installed on the Moon. According to NASA, thermal radiators, solar panels and even camera lenses should benefit from this. Dust destruction is also considered “essential” to ensure the success of lunar missions.

The device has been developed since 2004 and tested since 2019.

“Exposure to dust is a problem because the lunar surface is very different from what we are used to here. Dust from lunar regolith can seep into joints, hatches and even living spaces, causing a variety of problems for spacecraft and astronauts.”said Charles Buehler, principal investigator at the Kennedy Laboratory for Electrostatics and Surface Physics.

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Since 2004, NASA has been trying to develop its electrodynamic dust shield. The technology is based on the electric curtain concept developed in 1967. The first test of the device was carried out in 2019 as part of the NASA Materials International Space Station Experiment 11 mission. Twelve panels made of various materials (glass, polyimide, fabric) were equipped for testing on the International Space Station (ISS).

In various tests, the technology was able to clean elements placed in the vacuum of space in one second. Tests included simulators as well as real regolith collected during the Apollo missions.

“The best dust collection technology we have”

After several real-world applications (especially in lenses), the first impact of EDS technology on the Moon will take place later this year. It should integrate the CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) program, responsible for transporting scientific equipment and materials directly to the star.

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“The team put in a lot of work and dedication. EDS is considered the advanced and best technology for dust collection in space applications.”said Charles Buehler.

If electrodynamic technology proves satisfactory, all types of lunar installations should be equipped with it. Operating both outdoors and indoors, it can even drop payloads during missions to the Moon. Because with it, traditional cleaning products on board may become obsolete.