Constant bombardment of electrons and protons from the solar wind has charged lunar regolith negatively. The dust is attracted by electrostatic charge and attaches onto spacesuits and vision goggles, thus reducing an astronaut’s visibility, while causing respiratory irritation when unavoidably transported onto the spacecraft. In the Lunar vacuum (~10–12 torr), the maximum charge on dust particles remains extremely high (up to several thousand volts) because the charge dissipation or discharge from the regolith is very low. There is virtually no charge dissipation mechanism existing on the Moon. To exploit this phenomenon, an electrostatic charge collector with a capacitive storage system has been successfully tested to demonstrate dust mitigation and power generation. Through this charge collection process, negatively charged lunar regolith can be neutralized so that it does not adhere to spacesuits and spacecraft. This research was conducted internally at NASA Langley Research Center to demonstrate feasibility of a prototype in a simulated lunar environment. Further work is intended to develop the device at a scale that can be integrated into a rover concept, which will help to neutralize regolith on landing pads, launch pads, walking aisles, roadways, and around airlocks.

Access the Conference Proceedings Paper on ASCE Library 

Constant bombardment of electrons and protons from the solar wind has charged lunar regolith negatively. The dust is attracted by electrostatic charge and attaches onto spacesuits and vision goggles, thus reducing an astronaut’s visibility, while causing respiratory irritation when unavoidably transported onto the spacecraft. In the Lunar vacuum (~10–12 torr), the maximum charge on dust particles remains extremely high (up to several thousand volts) because the charge dissipation or discharge from the regolith is very low. There is virtually no charge dissipation mechanism existing on the Moon. To exploit this phenomenon, an electrostatic charge collector with a capacitive storage system has been successfully tested to demonstrate dust mitigation and power generation. Through this charge collection process, negatively charged lunar regolith can be neutralized so that it does not adhere to spacesuits and spacecraft. This research was conducted internally at NASA Langley Research Center to demonstrate feasibility of a prototype in a simulated lunar environment. Further work is intended to develop the device at a scale that can be integrated into a rover concept, which will help to neutralize regolith on landing pads, launch pads, walking aisles, roadways, and around airlocks.

**[Access the Conference Proceedings Paper on ASCE Library](https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483374.073)** 

Electrostatic Power (ESP) Generator and Lunar Dust Mitigater

This conference brought the experience and knowledge of experts in the aerospace industry together to share and discuss the latest research and engineering techniques that effect the exploration and settlement of space. Presentations were made in multiple concurrent symposia over three days. Topics included: Granular materials in space exploration, exploration in utilization of extra-terrestrial bodies, advanced materials and designs for aerospace and terrestrial structures under extreme environment, structures in challenging environments, and space engineering, construction, and architecture for the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Due to challenges with COVID-19, this 17th Biennial was moved to April 2021 and was offered in a virtual format.

[Paper Proceedings](https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/earthandspace2021)

Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26226/m.63243a3fb7ff860013acd57f