Resistant Regolith
Apollo mission spacesuits on display at the Smithsonian are still saturated with lunar dust: once it permeates a fabric, it’s almost impossible to get off. Lunar dust is one form of regolith, the loose material covering the surface of the Moon as well as that of other moons, asteroids, and planets, including Mars. It can clog up equipment and affect the health and well-being of astronauts–the Apollo crew, for example, suffered hay fever-like symptoms as a result. UMD aerospace engineering associate professor Christine Hartzell recently briefed Fraser Cain and the Universe Today podcast audience about the hazards posed by regolith and what scientists are doing to help bring it under control.
May 25, 2023 Prev |
