Questions tagged [regolith]
Questions regarding regolith which is a layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock. It includes dust, soil, broken rock, and other related materials.
47 questions
4 votes
1 answer
97 views
How serious is electrostatic dust contamination from Lunar or Mars regolith on the durability of an Excursion Suit?
Apollo lunar suits experienced abrasion. Given the composition of Mars regolith are there any inferences of how many spare suits or replacement pieces might be needed for a Mars or long term Lunar ...
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4 votes
1 answer
991 views
Why test in large lunar surface facilities with lunar regolith simulant instead of small ones?
The Colorado School of Mines now has a 40ft x 40ft lunar surface simulation facility with very fine lunar regolith simulant. An even larger facility (20m x 30m, or 65ft x 108ft) was built in Germany. ...
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0 votes
0 answers
133 views
Pyrolysis of regolith can produce hydrogen and oxygen. Is this a viable alternative to water hydrolysis for production of lunar H2/O2 propellant?
With the currently proposed lunar polar landings, there has been speculation about electrolysis of water for the production of hydrogen and oxygen for propellant. Electrolysis requires generous ...
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4 votes
0 answers
132 views
Does the low conductivity of regolith limit lunar surface radio communication?
The maximum distance of radio communication depends on the carrier wave frequency. For shortwave, carrier wave range exceeds line-of-sight by utilizing skywave (ionosphere) reflection. Medium carrier ...
- 36.6k
2 votes
1 answer
94 views
How much is the estimated amount of ilmenite present on Lunar surface?
I wanted to gauge estimated amount of ilmenite that can be extracted from Lunar regolith. From that, ultimately I want to derive the amount of oxygen that can be extracted out of it. Any estimate or ...
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20 votes
3 answers
5k views
Why do the boot prints on the moon appear bright in some photographs or film?
I've seen that in some videos or photos of the moon mission, the boot prints appear brighter relative to the untouched ground: But in some other cases, they are the same brightness as the ground: Is ...
- 575
9 votes
3 answers
822 views
Can Martian regolith be easily melted with microwaves?
Apparently, Lunar regolith will melt if you expose it to moderate power microwave energy. Based on the accepted answer to the referenced question, it has to do with the presence of iron in the ...
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4 votes
0 answers
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What can we know or at least deduce about this "mysterious blob in an Ingenuity navcam image"?
Near the end of Mars Guy's new video Mars helicopter escapes sand trap linked below there's an image taken by the Ingenuity helicopter where an out-of-focus bit of debris passes in front of the navcam ...
user12102
2 votes
0 answers
124 views
How to make diamagnetic lunar simulant that would "float" in a strong enough magnetic field? (for China's 60 cm high field simulator)
Live Science's China builds 'artificial moon' for gravity experiment says: Chinese scientists have built an "artificial moon" research facility that will enable them to simulate low-gravity ...
user12102
6 votes
0 answers
69 views
Are changing regolith properties under different thermal conditions a concern for the VIPER rover?
NASA's VIPER mission will send a rover to the lunar south pole, which will drive on sunlit terrain and in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), which are among the coldest places in our solar system. ...
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14 votes
3 answers
5k views
Rock arches on the moon?
The large rock in the centre right position (cut off by the image's right edge) of this photo seems to include the left part of a (small) natural arch: Is this indeed a rock arch? Are complete ...
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2 votes
1 answer
224 views
Perseverance's First Borehole looks like its particles of sand stuck together by something; composition of this material and source of adhesion?
Resampled and sharpened detail from PIA24796: WATSON Image of Perseverance's First Borehole This is reminiscent of a day at the beach digging a hole in wet sand. The walls remain standing as long as ...
user12102
17 votes
2 answers
2k views
Martian dust getting into habitats
Martian dust could cause lung disease including cancer. Space suits and boots would become contaminated and bring the dust into the habitats. How would human missions to Mars mitigate this issue?
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22 votes
2 answers
2k views
Is this white stuff seen by the Mars Phoenix Lander water or carbon dioxide ice?
Source Here is an image which shows ice is evaporating over time. They use the word "ice". 1st: I'm not sure what they are talking about. Are they talking about the white stuff (like milk) ...
- 371
8 votes
1 answer
235 views
Has Curiosity ever taken a good hard look at the dirt covering its top surface? Can it? Have individual particles been sized?
A reasonable answer to any one of the three enumerated parts gets the bounty! I added some dirty pictures of Curiosity to Curiosity is still dirty! after August 9, 2018 (Sol 2137), and in this March ...
user12102