HONOLULU — As NASA’s Artemis seeks to return to space exploration in 2029, the occasion will mark 60 years since its first landing on the Moon with the crew of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969.
What You Need To Know
Lunar dust consists of crushed rock, and the fine, abrasive dust can damage lunar landers, interfere with instruments and destroy spacesuits; it also poses a serious threat to human lungs if inhaled
In addition, lunar dust on the sun-facing side of the Moon is exposed to solar radiation 24/7, creating a positive electrical charge and making it cling to everything
A $50,000 grant was recently awarded to HPU by MUREP Partnership Annual Notification that will provide HPU Assistant Professor of Engineering Arif Rahman with the grant funds to fulfill his proposal to develop a special fabric, LiqMEST — Liquid Metal Electrostatic Protective Textile
According to Rahman, the LiqMEST fabric will serve as an outer layer for NASA’s spacesuits, employing electrostatic forces to repel lunar dust
But even with the newest technology contributing to Artemis’ anticipated space launch in six years, one challenge remains — space dust. That’s where Hawaii Pacific University Assistant Professor of Engineering Arif Rahman, Ph.D., comes in, according to an HPU news release.
