Work

Lunar surface: Dust dynamics and regolith mechanics

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: The lunar surface is characterized by a collisionally evolved regolith resulting from meteoroid bombardment. This lunar soil consists of highly angular particles in a broad, approximately power law size distribution, with impact‐generated glasses. The regolith becomes densified and difficult to excavate when subjected to lunar quakes or, eventually, manned and unmanned activity on the surface. Solar radiation and the solar wind produce a plasma sheath near the lunar surface. Lunar grains acquire charge in this environment and can exhibit unusual behavior, including levitation and transport across the surface because of electric fields in the plasma sheath. The fine component of the lunar regolith contributes to the operational and health hazards posed to planned lunar expeditions. In this paper we discuss the mechanical response of the regolith to anticipated exploration activities and review the plasma environment near the lunar surface and the observations, models, and dynamics of charged lunar dust.

Source: Reviews of Geophysics

DOI: 10.1029/2005rg000184

Authors: J. E. Colwell, S. Batiste, M. Horányi, S. Robertson, S. Sture

Institutions: University of Central Florida, University of Colorado Boulder, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Language: English

Topic: Planetary Science and Exploration

Subfield: Space and Planetary Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2074230993

FWCI: 8.453

Cites: 107

Cited by: 462

Related to: 10