Anti-dust shield advancements in China's lunar exploration efforts

Anti-dust shield advancements in China's lunar exploration efforts
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Oct 10, 2024

China has entered the critical phase of its manned lunar exploration program, aiming for a manned lunar landing by 2030. A significant challenge that researchers face in this endeavor is the management of lunar dust, which poses considerable risks to the equipment and astronauts on the lunar surface.

Researchers from Xidian University have developed a promising anti-dust shield solution using nanosecond laser etching. As reported in *ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces*, this technology creates dust-repellent surfaces to protect lunar equipment.

The Threat of Lunar Dust
Lunar dust consists of silicate particles formed by the impacts of micrometeorites, solar winds, and cosmic radiation on lunar rocks. Ranging from tens to hundreds of microns in size, these particles may be small but are extremely sharp, rough, and electrically charged due to high temperatures from meteorite impacts. These characteristics make the dust highly adhesive, especially to equipment and astronaut suits, potentially jeopardizing both operational equipment and astronaut health.

Wang Xiao, a researcher from Xidian University and co-author of the study, explained, "Lunar dust can easily infiltrate gaps in mechanical equipment, causing friction, wear, and operational difficulties." Dust particles also accumulate on critical equipment surfaces like radiators and solar panels, hindering heat dissipation and solar energy collection, which could lead to equipment malfunctions. Dust can also degrade the quality of optical lenses and affect data accuracy.

Nanosecond Laser Etching: A Passive Solution
The research team led by Wang Weidong focused on passive dust-protection technology, which alters the surface structure of equipment rather than relying on external energy sources, a more sustainable solution given the limited energy resources on the Moon.

The team selected aluminum as their base material due to its lightweight, high strength, and resistance to corrosion. Using nanosecond laser etching, they crafted multi-level micro- and nano-structures on the aluminum surface. The key to this method is the precision control of laser parameters, including energy density, pulse frequency, and scanning speed.

Results of the Anti-dust Technology
Through experimentation, the researchers discovered that an etched aluminum surface with an 80-micron scanning spacing achieved the best results, significantly reducing the adhesion of lunar dust. The study showed a 52 percent reduction in dust adhesion to the treated surface compared to untreated aluminum. Furthermore, dust coverage was reduced by 85 percent, and accumulated dust could be easily removed using gravity.

Wang Xiao noted that further engineering tests would be conducted to assess the technology's full potential. If successful, this approach could be applied to various lunar mission components such as rovers, mechanical equipment, solar panels, and thermal control devices, improving their durability and safety for future lunar exploration missions.