Dust Mitigation

The Dust Mitigation focus area will work to develop dust mitigation technologies that protect lunar systems in use on the lunar surface from the threat of contamination and damage from local dust. Capability areas in need of dust mitigation include optical systems, thermal surfaces, fabrics, mechanisms, seals and soft goods, and gaseous filtration. High priority areas for investigation are surface stabilization, dust tolerant textiles, filtration, electromechanics and magnetics, as well as dust mitigation structures. The team will work to adapt terrestrial technology for the space environment, and to mature environmental testing technologies.

APL Staff

Contact all staff

Lindsey Tolis

Focus Group Co-Facilitator

Jorge Núñez

DM Focus Area Lead

Sarah Hasnain

Focus Group Co-Facilitator

Mark Perry

Goals

In order to enable a sustainable exploration of the Moon, the focus group’s goals include identifying needs and gaps in dust mitigation, providing recommendations to foster development, and fielding that technology on future missions.

Vision

Lunar dust is a major challenge to robotic and human systems that impacts our ability to enable a sustainable presence on the Moon. The Dust Mitigation Focus Group aims to build a broad and diverse community of lunar and technology experts interested in identifying and developing solutions that minimizes the impact and hazard of lunar dust on robotic and human systems.

Year 1 Accomplishments

  • The Dust Mitigation Workshop was held on Thursday, February 4, 2021. The primary aim for this virtual workshop was to bring together members of the community, including lunar architecture systems and technology developers, dust mitigation technology developers, and scientists, to solicit input and discuss outstanding challenges and gaps in dust mitigation as well as identify areas that may be in need of future investment.
  • The event's objectives was to update the state of dust mitigation and identify technologies that are already available, define gaps in knowledge and research, get community perspectives, and gather input for future solicitations. A report summarizing key outcomes of this workshop was provided to NASA.
  • The workshop consisted of a combination of invited presentations from NASA representatives and the community, contributed lightning talks, and breakout discussion sessions. Niki Werkheiser, NASA STMD and lead of the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, was our keynote speaker.
  • Brief talks, time for discussion and questions, and the breakout sessions allowed for deeper discussions of what technologies are already available, what current outstanding challenges and gaps in dust mitigation exit, whether in knowledge or technology, and identify next steps and priorities for future opportunities.
  • For more, click here.

Year 2 Goals

To continue to make progress towards the focus group goals, the Dust Mitigation Focus Group has decided to form the following 7 subgroups:

  • Materials & Surface Coatings
  • Seals, Soft Goods, & Fabrics
  • Mechanisms
  • Monitoring & Filtration
  • Modeling
  • Lunar Surface Modification
  • Isolation Technologies

Establishing formal subgroups aligned with specific topics within dust mitigation will allow the group to more effectively identify the needs and gaps, provide recommendations, and field technology on future missions.

If you are interested in participating in the subgroups, please fill out this survey.

Monthly Meeting Schedule

The LSIC Dust Mitigation monthly meetings usually occur on the third Thursday of the month at 12:00 PM ET. For meeting information and agendas, please see the LSIC Wiki on Confluence. To gain access to the Confluence page, please email lsic-wiki-admins@listserv.jhuapl.edu.

Materials & Surface Coatings

This subgroup will focus on how dust affects materials and surface coatings and explore mitigation tactics. Topics of interest include optical systems (viewports, camera lenses, solar panels, space suit visors, mass spectrometers, and other sensitive optical instruments) and thermal surfaces (thermal radiators, thermal painted surfaces, and thermal connections).

Seals, Soft Goods, & Fabrics

This subgroup will focus on how dust affects seals, soft goods, and fabrics and explore mitigation tactics. When looking at fabrics, topics of interest include space suit fabrics, soft wall habitats, and mechanism covers. Topics of interest for seals and soft goods include space suit interfaces, hatches, connectors, and hoses.

Mechanisms

This subgroup will focus on how dust affects mechanisms like linear actuators, bearings, rotary joints, hinges, quick disconnects, valves, and linkages, and explore mitigation tactics.

Monitoring & Filtration

This subgroup will focus on how monitoring and filtration factor into dust mitigation. Topics of interest include dust monitoring (cabin and external dust monitoring) and gaseous filtration (atmosphere revitalization, ISRU processes).

Modeling

This subgroup will focus on modeling dust plumes on the lunar surface to contribute to the focus group’s efforts on mitigation.

Lunar Surface Modification

This subgroup will focus on how lunar surface modification will impact dust mitigation. Topics of interest include lunar landing pads, dust free zones, and workspaces.

Isolation Technologies

This subgroup will focus on exploring technologies that keep dust out as a part of the dust mitigation effort.

February 2023 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

January 2023 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

December 2022 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

November 2022 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

November 2022 Telecon

LSIC Fall Meeting

October 2022 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

May 2022 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

May 2022 Telecon

LSIC Spring Meeting

April 2022 Telecon

Dust Mitigation + Excavation and Construction - Monthly FG

April 2022 Telecon

MOSA Working Group

November 2021 Telecon

LSIC Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

November 2021 Telecon

Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Fall Meeting

October 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation - Monthly FG

September 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

August 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

July 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

June 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

May 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

March 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

February 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

February 2021 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Workshop

December 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

November 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

October 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

October 2020 Telecon

Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium Virtual Fall Meeting

September 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

August 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

July 2020 Telecon

Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

June 2020 Telecon

Kickoff Dust Mitigation Monthly FG

February 2020 Telecon

Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium National Kickoff Meeting

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