NASA's Artemis moon astronauts may wear electric field spacesuits to fight pesky lunar dust

Astronauts on NASA's Artemis missions to the Moon may wear new spacesuits that use electric fields to repel pesky lunar dust. The new technology, called LiqMEST (Liquid Metal Electrostatic Protective Textile), is being developed by a team of researchers at Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU).

 

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Lunar dust is a fine, abrasive powder that can get into everything. It can cause problems with spacesuits, equipment, and even astronauts' health. On the Apollo missions, astronauts found that lunar dust was difficult to remove from their suits and could irritate their skin and eyes.

 

The LiqMEST fabric is made of a liquid metal that is embedded in a flexible textile. When an electric field is applied to the fabric, the liquid metal creates a repulsive force that can push away dust particles. The researchers say that the fabric could be used to create spacesuits that are much more resistant to lunar dust than current designs.

 

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The LiqMEST fabric is still in the early stages of development, but the researchers are hopeful that it could be used on future Artemis missions. They say that the fabric could also be used to create dust-resistant clothing for workers in other dusty environments, such as mines and construction sites.

 

 

"Lunar dust is a major challenge for astronauts," said Dr. Kimberly de Groh, the lead researcher on the project. "Our goal is to develop a new type of spacesuit that can effectively protect astronauts from the harmful effects of lunar dust."

The LiqMEST fabric is just one of the many new technologies that are being developed for the Artemis program. NASA is working on a variety of new technologies that will help astronauts explore the Moon and beyond.

 

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FAQ

 

 

Q: What is LiqMEST?

A: LiqMEST (Liquid Metal Electrostatic Protective Textile) is a new type of fabric that uses electric fields to repel dust. The fabric is made of a liquid metal that is embedded in a flexible textile. When an electric field is applied to the fabric, the liquid metal creates a repulsive force that can push away dust particles.

Q: How does LiqMEST work?

A: When an electric field is applied to the LiqMEST fabric, the liquid metal particles become polarized. This means that they develop positive and negative charges on opposite sides. The positive charges on the liquid metal particles are attracted to the negative charges on the dust particles. This creates a repulsive force that pushes the dust particles away from the fabric.

Q: What are the benefits of using LiqMEST?

A: LiqMEST has a number of potential benefits, including:

• Dust repellency: LiqMEST is very effective at repelling dust. This could help to protect astronauts from the harmful effects of lunar dust, such as irritation to the skin and eyes.
• Flexibility: LiqMEST is a flexible fabric that can be used to create a variety of garments. This makes it a versatile material that could be used for a variety of applications.
• Durability: LiqMEST is a durable material that is expected to withstand the harsh conditions of space.

Q: How could LiqMEST be used?

A: LiqMEST could be used to create a variety of dust-resistant garments, such as:

• Spacesuits
• Dust masks
• Coveralls
• Gloves

LiqMEST could also be used to create dust-resistant barriers, such as:

• Curtains
• Tarps
• Drapes

Q: When will LiqMEST be available?

A: LiqMEST is still in the early stages of development. The researchers are currently working to improve the performance of the fabric and to make it more durable. They hope to have LiqMEST available for use in the next few years.