The Effects of Lunar Dust on EVA Systems During the Apollo Missions

By National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mission documents from the six Apollo missions that landed on the lunar surface have been studied in order to catalog the effects of lunar dust on Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) systems, primarily the Apollo surface space suit. It was found that the effects could be sorted into nine categories: vision obscuration, false instrument readings, dust coating and contamination, loss of traction, clogging of mechanisms, abrasion, thermal control problems, seal failures, and inhalation and irritation. Although simple dust mitigation measures were sufficient to mitigate some of the problems (i.e., loss of traction) it was found that these measures were ineffective to mitigate many of the more serious problems (i.e., clogging, abrasion, diminished heat rejection). The severity of the dust problems were consistently underestimated by ground tests, indicating a need to develop better simulation facilities and procedures. Gaier, James R. Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-2005-213610, E-15071 WBS 22-614-30-02-02 38412 EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY; APOLLO FLIGHTS; LUNAR DUST; SPACE SUITS; MANNED LUNAR SURFACE VEHICLES; OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS; LUNAR SURFACE; TEMPERATURE CONTROL; TRACTION; IRRITATION; ABRASION; CONTAMINATION; PLUGGING; LUNAR ENVIRONMENT; LUNAR LOGISTICS; TRANSPORT THEORY

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08C4CXVL6
• ISBN13: 9798662705760
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 72 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"