In a recent suborbital flight test, NASA and the University of Central Florida have collaborated on an experiment known as the Electrostatic Regolith Interaction Experiment (ERIE) to gain insights into the potentially damaging effects of lunar regolith, or Moon dust, on astronauts and equipment. This research is crucial as NASA gears up for its Artemis campaign to send astronauts back to the lunar surface.

The ERIE experiment was one of 14 NASA-supported payloads launched on December 19 aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard uncrewed rocket from Launch Site One in West Texas. The experiment aimed to shed light on how the abrasive dust grains of regolith interact with astronauts, their spacesuits, and other equipment on the Moon.

During the flight test, ERIE collected data to help researchers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida study tribocharging, which refers to the friction-induced charges in microgravity. It is crucial to understand how the Moon's highly charged environment, influenced by phenomena such as solar wind and ultraviolet light from the Sun, can attract regolith grains to astronauts and their equipment. These grains could potentially cause instruments to overheat or disrupt their intended functioning.

Krystal Acosta, a researcher for NASA's triboelectric sensor board component inside the ERIE payload, explained the challenges posed by lunar dust charging, saying, "There's no good solution to the dust charging problem right now. For example, if you get dust on an astronaut suit and bring it back into the habitat, that dust could unstick and fly around the cabin." Acosta pointed out that there's no way to electrically ground anything on the Moon, further complicating the issue.

The ERIE payload, designed and built by a team from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, reached an altitude of 351,248 feet aboard New Shepard. In the microgravity phase, dust grains simulating regolith particles interacted with eight insulators in ERIE, creating a tribocharge. An electrometer measured the positive and negative charge of the simulated regolith as it moved through an applied electric field.

Jay Phillips, the lead of Electrostatics Environments and Spacecraft Charging at NASA Kennedy, emphasized the importance of understanding the charging process and the movement of dust particles. "We want to know what causes the dust to charge, how it moves around, and where it ultimately settles. The dust has rough edges that can scratch surfaces and block thermal radiators," Phillips said.

The data collected by ERIE will inform future missions to the lunar surface. One potential application is the use of triboelectric sensors on a rover's wheels, allowing astronauts to measure the positive and negative charges between the vehicle and regolith on the Moon. The goal is to develop technologies that can prevent dust from sticking to and damaging astronaut suits and electronics during missions.

The ERIE payload experienced approximately three minutes of microgravity during the New Shepard capsule's suborbital flight, which lasted about 10 minutes before safely landing back on Earth in the Texas desert. The interactions were recorded by a camera, and Phillips and his team are currently reviewing the data.

This flight was made possible by the Flight Opportunities program, a part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. The program aims to rapidly demonstrate space technologies with industry flight providers.

Through this collaborative effort, NASA and the University of Central Florida are taking crucial steps towards understanding the effects of lunar regolith on astronauts and their equipment. This research will play a vital role in ensuring the safety and success of future missions to the Moon.