Mitigation of Dust Contamination During EVA Operations on the Moon and Mars

Glaser, Peter E.; ,

Mitigation of Dust Contamination During EVA Operations on the Moon and Mars

by Peter E. Glaser, Arthur D. Little Inc, Cambridge, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space III

Abstract:

The Space Exploration initiative is charting a new course for human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Advances in EVA system have been identified as being critical for enabling long-duration exploration of the lunar and Martian surfaces. Therefore, EVA systems will have to function effectively within the harsh environmental constraints. Surface dust deposited on EVA systems must be excluded from human habitations to prevent degradation of mechanical and electrical equipment performance, and aspiration of dust particles in the crew's lungs during extended exposure to the habitation environment. The dust environments on the Moon and Mars are characterized using lunar and Martian soil simulants. Active techniques for removing dust contamination from space suits are considered. The conclusion is presented that exclusion of dust particle from habitations will be of paramount importance to ensure the health and safety of the crew, and reliable operation of EVA system.

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