Liquid nitrogen spray could clean up stubborn moon dust

A liquid nitrogen spray developed by Washington State College researchers can take away virtually the entire simulated moon dust from a space go well with, doubtlessly fixing what’s a big problem for future moon-landing astronauts.

The sprayer eliminated greater than 98% of moon dust simulant in a vacuum surroundings with minimal injury to spacesuits, performing higher than any methods which have been investigated beforehand. The researchers report on their work within the journal, Acta Astronautica.

Whereas folks have managed to place males on the moon, they have not discovered methods to hold them clear there. Just like the clingiest packaging peanuts, moon dust sticks to all the things that it touches. Worse than the packing peanuts, the dust consists of very nice particles which might be the consistency of floor fiberglass.

“Moon dust is electrostatically charged, abrasive and will get in every single place, making it a really tough substance to take care of,” mentioned Ian Wells, first writer on the paper and a senior in WSU’s Faculty of Mechanical and Supplies Engineering. “You find yourself with a nice layer of dust at least simply protecting all the things.”

Throughout the six crewed Apollo missions to the moon within the Sixties and early Seventies, astronauts used a brush to attempt to take away the dust from their spacesuits, nevertheless it did not work very effectively. The abrasive and tiny dust particles can get into engines and electronics. Additionally they obtained into the spacesuits, destroying their seals and making a few of the costly fits unusable. Astronauts additionally suffered from “lunar hay fever,” and researchers assume {that a} longer publicity to the dust may trigger lung injury much like that of Black Lung Illness.

“It posed a whole lot of issues that affected the missions in addition to the astronauts as soon as they returned house,” mentioned Wells.

The NASA Artemis mission goals to land the primary lady and first particular person of colour on the moon in 2025 with the hope of finally organising a base camp there for additional planetary exploration, so they’re serious about discovering an answer to the moon dust downside.

Of their work, the analysis crew demonstrated their expertise that makes use of the Leidenfrost Impact to wash the space suits. The impact could be seen when one pours cold water on a scorching frying pan, the place it beads up and strikes throughout the pan. Spray the very chilly liquid nitrogen at a hotter dust-covered materials, and the dust particles bead up and float away on the nitrogen vapor.

The crew examined their cleansing methodology underneath regular atmospheric situations and in a vacuum that’s extra much like outer space with the sprayer performing higher within the vacuum ambiance.

The liquid nitrogen spray was additionally a lot gentler on spacesuit supplies than different cleansing strategies. Whereas a brush precipitated injury to the spacesuit materials after only one brushing, the liquid nitrogen spray took 75 cycles earlier than injury occurred.

The researchers’ revolutionary cleansing concept took a prime prize final 12 months at NASA’s Breakthrough, Revolutionary and Sport-changing (BIG) Thought Problem. Along with Wells, undergraduate researchers on the paper included John Bussey and Nathaniel Swets. Jacob Leachman, affiliate professor within the Faculty of Mechanical and Supplies Engineering, led the undertaking.

The researchers at the moment are working to completely perceive and mannequin the complex interactions between the dust particles and liquid nitrogen that permits the cleansing course of to work. They’re additionally hoping to additional take a look at the expertise in situations that extra intently approximate outer space, reminiscent of in lunar gravity.