Presentation of the to-be-commissioned ESTEC vacuum dust adhesion facility.
The Virtual Formulation Laboratory (VFL) is a computational tool (based on empirical modelling) developed to simulate and optimise the behaviour of complex particulate systems. While initially designed for bulk solids handling in terrestrial manufacturing, the technology offers a framework for modelling and analysing lunar regolith simulants, addressing critical challenges in extra-terrestrial...
The Vulcan Facility was created by the NHM in London as a contract deliverable for ESA [1][2][3]. It is now located at ESA’s UK site and houses a collection of Lunar, Martian, and asteroid analogue samples (or ‘simulants’) and benchtop analytical equipment for fundamental properties characterisation. Feedstock materials are also available for design and production of new simulants.
The...
An overview of the LUNA analogue testing facility in Cologne
Dust is challenging in every planetary environment, especially for projects with high reliability and uptime requirements. This includes most lunar and Martian planetary missions as well as specific terrestrial missions, for example, helicopters.
The presence of dust causes accelerated degradation and a consequent reduction in the efficiency and lifetime of affected vehicles. This can, for...
