Potential "Show Stopper" to future moon mission?

[Donamy]

What to do about the moondust ?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124786241042159761.html

 

[wehaveaproblem]

"NASA's solution? Fake it."

ZOMG! Conspiracy!

Seriously though, it has been a known problem since Apollo. I know the new lander plan has an airlock, which is supposed to help with decontamination etc. but it doesn't solve the problem of needing more for preperation and medical experiments etc. Although 500tons does sound a little OTT for a demand.

I'd be interested to know how regolith is charged, I'm guessing experiments have been done with static or whathaveyou to try and collect/decontaminate, but I've not seen anything regarding this.

 

[Donamy]

Bump! Has anyone come up with any ideas for this problem, or is something that shouldn't even be looked at yet ?

 

[willy88]

Shop-Vac?

 

[Donamy]

Not gonna help in a vacuum.

 

[Brad]

I believe one way they could do it is with a type of "shower" system. First a rise of recycled water, vacuum/blow the water off the suit, filter, and reuse? This would certainly capture the dust particles. Same principle they use to take a shower on the ISS just a bit bigger and automated.

 

[Donamy]

Also need a way to keep it off the equipment. Astronauts have said it sticks to everything and is highly abrasive.

 

[jwcornish]

A few of the concepts for dealing with lunar dust that I have read about.

1. Electrostatic/ionic removal. Basically an ion shower in the airlock to pick up the dust and deposit it on a charged grid

2. Magnetic brushes. A significant portion of regolith contains Iron, and can be picked up with a magnet. On concept I've seen is a brush with a magnetic strip on the back.

 

[Imagineer]

A few of the concepts for dealing with lunar dust that I have read about.

1. Electrostatic/ionic removal. Basically an ion shower in the airlock to pick up the dust and deposit it on a charged grid

2. Magnetic brushes. A significant portion of regolith contains Iron, and can be picked up with a magnet. On concept I've seen is a brush with a magnetic strip on the back.

Just collect it with duct tape. The most useful stuff on or off the planet.

 

[Hartmann]

Use a airlock with a descontamination system could be ok but it´s better have the suits outside of the craft or base and enter using a small hatch on the back.

 

[John_L]

Use a airlock with a descontamination system could be ok but it´s better have the suits outside of the craft or base and enter using a small hatch on the back.

Right, that's obviously the best solution, but why bother considering problems we won't face for 20 years....

http://news.cnet.com/8301-19514_3-10308870-239.html

Thanks to all you ding dongs who voted for Obama... I warned you all back then (all while reading all the glowing posts about the 'anointed one'). Now, what's taking forever to get done as it is will take longer, if ever. Obama and his goons are too busy raping the treasury and socializing the country to spend money on something worthwhile.

 

[tblaxland]

@SpaceNut, you will find those budgets where set whilst Bush was in power and they have been below ESAS targets since something like 2005. Also, this: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31580

Finally, I find no evidence that McCain would have funded Constellation any more than anyone else (at least it is not prominent).

 

[John_L]

@SpaceNut, you will find those budgets where set whilst Bush was in power and they have been below ESAS targets since something like 2005. Also, this: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31580

Finally, I find no evidence that McCain would have funded Constellation any more than anyone else (at least it is not prominent).

True, but McCain wouldn't have defunded it (as Obama is planning to do).