Sensors for Scientific Payload

The ability to utilize regolith would support human missions to the Moon and Mars by both stabilizing the surface as well as the use of indigenous resources. However, such activities have new technical challenges to overcome the issues related to lunar environmental conditions, a wide range of temperature fluctuation, extremely high vacuum, and electrostatically charged fine regolith dusts. Dust mitigation on lunar surface is a serious task to be prepared well ahead of any mission operations.

We develop a device to generate electrical power from the charged lunar surface, while simultaneously neutralizing and mitigating the charged particles through capacitive collection or coupling of electrons. The device, called electrostatic power generation (ESPG), could be a valuable asset for human exploration and lunar resource utilization by harvesting electrical power, while alleviating problems associated with electrostatic charging.

Related papers