Speaker
Description
Both in manned and robotic exploration the crew protection and reduction of material degradation are key aspects in lunar (or Mars) surface applications. One of the main risks is caused by the exposal and interaction with lunar regolith and dust. Due to its irregular shape and sharp edges, lunar dust is highly abrasive and poses a substantial risk for joints and moving parts. The DEAR project is focusing on performance risk studies as well as the use of E-fields for regolith transportation (dedicated presentation). Different simulants with varying particle sizes were chosen to evaluate the degradation of sealings, penetration through the sealings and performance loss of mechanisms and space suit materials. This was realized in form of a robotic arm wearing a space suit textile performing typical movements. The experience to reproducibly apply the regolith simulants will be discussed. Within this presentation, the collection of the regolith simulants on the space suit materials, as well as the redistribution and migration into the textile depending on the particle size is investigated and presented. The tests inside the DEAR box environment were linked to field studies from analog mission campaigns. Also, the damage and performance degradation of the textile was analyzed to identify critical parts and movements. The DEAR box is now ready to perform lifetime functional testing in a representative dusty environment. Project is co funded by ESA.
