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Design of equipment for lunar dust removalNASA has a long range goal of constructing a fully equipped, manned lunar base on the near side of the moon by the year 2015. During the Apollo Missions, lunar dust coated and fouled equipment surfaces and mechanisms exposed to the lunar environment. In addition, the atmosphere and internal surfaces of the lunar excursion module were contaminated by lunar dust which was brought in on articles passed through the airlock. Consequently, the need exists for device or appliance to remove lunar dust from surfaces of material objects used outside of the proposed lunar habitat. Additionally, several concepts were investigated for preventing the accumulation of lunar dust on mechanisms and finished surfaces. The character of the dust and the lunar environment present unique challenges for the removal of contamination from exposed surfaces. In addition to a study of lunar dust adhesion properties, the project examines the use of various energy domains for removing the dust from exposed surfaces. Also, prevention alternatives are examined for systems exposed to lunar dust. A concept utilizing a pressurized gas is presented for dust removal outside of an atmospherically controlled environment. The concept consists of a small astronaut/robotic compatible device which removes dust from contaminated surfaces by a small burst of gas.
Document ID
19920010136
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Belden, Lacy
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Cowan, Kevin
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Kleespies, Hank
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Ratliff, Ryan
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Shah, Oniell
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Shelburne, Kevin
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:190014
NASA-CR-190014
Accession Number
92N19378
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4435
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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