Master's Thesis Proposal

Luca Scifoni

Advisor: Prof. Romero-Calvo

"Trade Space Analysis and Optimization of Rigid Electrodynamic Dust Shields for Lunar Dust Mitigation"

On

Friday, August 23  

10:30 a.m. 

Online via Microsoft Teams
(ID: 246 127 552 963 - Passcode: 88qVos)

 

Abstract

Lunar dust represents one of the primary threats to the safe operation of long-term missions on the Moon, as it poses several risks to the astronauts' health and can worsen or completely undermine the functionality of equipment and instrumentation. The lunar soil is covered with electrostatically charged, highly adhesive, and abrasive dust, which can intrude into the joints of astronauts' suits and stick to solar panels and thermal radiators. For these reasons, lunar dust mitigation is one of the most significant challenges that must be addressed before the return to the Moon with the upcoming Artemis missions.

The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) is among the most promising solutions to this problem. It exploits a non-uniform electric field applied to multiple electrodes using an AC signal, which creates Coulombic and dielectrophoretic forces able to repel charged dust particles. The working principle and its practical realizations have been shown to be effective in partially simulated lunar environments. Different materials have been tested for both the electrodes and the substrate, as well as for the dielectric coating that is necessary to prevent shorting and electrical breakdown and to guarantee the safety of the operations.

Nonetheless, further research is required to explore the trade space for optimizing the performance of EDS, its interaction with lunar dust particles, and the mitigation efficiency in the lunar environment. This work aims to determine how the performance changes when changing the design variables, such as the voltage and the frequency of the applied AC signal, the inclination angle, and the coating material of the device.

The experiments are carried out by reproducing key characteristics of the lunar environment, necessitating the creation of an appropriate experimental framework. The experiments are conducted in ultra-high vacuum conditions inside a vacuum chamber to simulate the lack of an atmosphere. Moreover, dynamic dusting conditions are ensured by a device that allows the dust to fall on the EDS during the experiments instead of being placed on the surface beforehand, thus simulating actual dusting mechanisms on the Moon and representing an uncommon approach in the literature. Additionally, a UV light will be included in the experimental framework to simulate the photoelectric charging of the dust grains due to solar radiation.

The early results investigate the effect of different applied voltages on the performance of devices with different coatings. Data are collected through videos and processed using image analysis techniques. A large scatter is observed, primarily due to dynamic dusting, making statistical methods essential. This preliminary procedure successfully demonstrates its capability to produce a significant trend of efficiency versus applied voltage and to differentiate statistically the performance of different devices with different coatings.

Further data and experiments are necessary to refine the analysis and incorporate additional variables, as well as to understand how the devices degrade over time. The ultimate objective is to realize multivariable statistical fittings that will enable the optimization of the design of EDS devices for future lunar missions.

Committee

• Dr. Álvaro Romero-Calvo – School of Aerospace Engineering (advisor)
• Dr. E. Glenn Lightsey – School of Aerospace Engineering
• Dr. Thomas Orlando – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry