What do lotus leaves, lizards and seashells have to do with the moon? According to researchers at the University of Arkansas, they may hold the secrets to protecting spacecraft from a pesky material known as lunar dust.
NASA recently awarded Min Zou, a distinguished professor of mechanical engineering at the university, just under $750,000 to develop textures that will repel this dust, according to a press release. The award is a part of NASA’s Early Stage Innovations program.
Zou is a leader in nanoscale surface engineering, nanomechanics and nanotribology. Tribology is the study of friction, wear, lubrication and associated technologies. She is also a fellow in the National Academy of Inventors.
Xiangbo Meng, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, will serve as a co-principal investigator on the project.
Lunar dust is a fine, glassy material on the moon’s surface that is abrasive and electrostatically charged. It has caused problems by adhering to surfaces, clogging mechanisms, degrading materials, penetrating seals and undermining the longevity and functionality of spacecraft, habitats and equipment on the moon.
It was a large challenge faced during the Apollo missions and even posed health risks to the astronauts, being tracked into the craft on their suits and gear, leading to respiratory and eye irritation.
The project aims to create surface textures that will repel the dust, so it can be applied to adhesive tapes to be used on moon equipment.
Researchers are looking closely at lotus leaves, which are known for self-cleaning and repelling water and dirt; the skin of sandfish lizards, whose scalped scales minimize friction in sandy environments and prevent sand particles from sticking; and seashells whose layered structures have hard and soft materials that increase durability.
Zou said she will design and fabricate the “textures of polymeric materials,” while Meng will apply thin, hard coatings through atomic layer deposition to protect those materials.
“By ensuring critical equipment remains functional and durable in harsh lunar conditions, we aim to make space science, travel and exploration more effective, affordable and sustainable,” the researchers said in their grant proposal.
Feature Photo: Distinguished professor of mechanical engineering, Min Zou | Credit: University of Arkansas
READ ALSO: Windham Joins Taco Society as Director of Operations
