It is well known that lunar dust contamination is of paramount concern for space agencies currently planning complex missions to the moon. The fine, sharp particles are known to damage mechanisms, cause wear, and deposit on surfaces thereby compromising optics, crippling power supplies, and causing thermal dysregulation. The adhesion of lunar dust is, however, not a well understood phenomenon. Lunar dust particles adhere through several mechanisms, including electrostatic forces due to the radiative environment.

This study aimed to produce realistic adhesion values from high-fidelity environment testing, whilst investigating the impact of various parameters. Two different lunar dust simulants (LMS-1, Exolith Labs and JSC-1A, ETSimulants/Orbitec) sieved to 30 µm) depending on the adhesion to the substrate. Whilst dependencies on substrate were observed, adhesion forces were found to be largely independent of particle size for this size range.

Further investigations are ongoing to test the behavior of more simulants and materials, as well as the introduction of VUV radiation during centrifugation in order to clarify the effects of photoemission on adhesion in this system. Both dielectric and conducting substrates will be used. Tests shall also be carried out using a simpler powder material (e.g. glass spheres), in order to corroborate the accuracy of experimental results.