News Story

Resistant Regolith

Dr. Christine Hartzell, UMD aerospace engineering

Apollo mission spacesuits on display at the Air and Space Museum are still saturated with lunar dust: once it permeates a fabric, it’s almost impossible to get off. Lunar dust is one form of regolith, the loose material covering the surface of the Moon and some of the solar system’s planets, including Mars. It can clog up equipment and affect the health and well-being of astronauts–the Apollo crew, for example, suffered hay fever-like symptoms as a result.

UMD aerospace engineering professor recently spoke with Fraser Cain, host of the Universe Today podcast, about the hazards posed by regolith and what scientists are doing to help bring it under control.

 

Published May 25, 2023