Dust is kept suspended longer on earth by the atmosphere, true. But particles on the moon will definitely kick up when agitated, and in the low gravity they will take a decent amount of time to descend. The dust clouds end up being flatter to the ground, and there won't be any turbulence to further the problem, but a blade that big will create dust issues for the rest of the Chariot vehicle.
FYI: Lunar dust (also known as regolith, though that is a more general term) is a huge challenge to designing mechanics to work there; tha-don is right on.
Also, Lunar dust is extremely, extremely abrasive. Since there is no atmosphere, no wind, no elements, the dust never really breaks down. So when a meteor crashes into the surface it ejects the fine, rough particles into the air, which then settle. These particles are extremely rough.
On earth wind blowing the dust, rain, and general atmospheric conditions help break down and smooth out the dust, kinda like when you were a kid and used one of those rock polishing machines, stick rough rocks in, let it run for a while and the rocks come out smooth.
Since there is no atmosphere, dust particles will simply follow Newton's laws of gravity: the particles will fall to the surface as fast as any dropped rock (I believe the gravity on the Moon is 1.63 meters / sec per sec ?). The particles will follow a fairly flat trajectory since the gravity on the moon is so low, about 1/6th Earth gravity. A rock dropped on earth takes about 1 second to fall 10 meters (1 G = 9.80665 m / s per s) On the moon that rock will take over 3 seconds to to fall 10 meters. So unless I am completely mistaken, I would think that dust clouds would clear rather quickly...
Ironically the astronauts that first tried to drive a vehicle on the moon found that the dust thrown up was such an issue that they had to fashion a improvised protection over the wheels, and now many years later damn NASA makes the same mistake and lets the wheels open.. and these people think they'll ever go to mars successfully.. It's all so disappointing.
"Some, all or none of these features may be selected for the design of a rover that eventually goes to the moon. NASA's lunar architects currently envision pressurized rovers that would travel in pairs, with two astronauts in each rover. The new prototype vehicle is meant to provide ideas as those future designs are developed"
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LiqwidZero @ Mar 26th 2008 2:34PM
In the lesser gravity of the moon, wouldn't the dirt and dust cloud around, everywhere, if one were to scoop it quickly?
Dan S. @ Mar 26th 2008 3:04PM
Since there is no atmosphere to suspend the dust particles, no.
tha-don @ Mar 26th 2008 3:17PM
lunar dust is actually one of the biggest problems in designing equipment for use on the moon. it can get in the cracks of machines n clog it n stuff.
so yeah, it's prolly gonna go all over, but it's everywhere already. just don't wear your good shoes when you're usin this thing i guess.
Josh Warner @ Mar 26th 2008 7:26PM
Dan S. is dead wrong here.
Dust is kept suspended longer on earth by the atmosphere, true. But particles on the moon will definitely kick up when agitated, and in the low gravity they will take a decent amount of time to descend. The dust clouds end up being flatter to the ground, and there won't be any turbulence to further the problem, but a blade that big will create dust issues for the rest of the Chariot vehicle.
FYI: Lunar dust (also known as regolith, though that is a more general term) is a huge challenge to designing mechanics to work there; tha-don is right on.
Paul @ Mar 26th 2008 8:15PM
Also, Lunar dust is extremely, extremely abrasive. Since there is no atmosphere, no wind, no elements, the dust never really breaks down. So when a meteor crashes into the surface it ejects the fine, rough particles into the air, which then settle. These particles are extremely rough.
On earth wind blowing the dust, rain, and general atmospheric conditions help break down and smooth out the dust, kinda like when you were a kid and used one of those rock polishing machines, stick rough rocks in, let it run for a while and the rocks come out smooth.
CraigJ @ Mar 26th 2008 8:32PM
Since there is no atmosphere, dust particles will simply follow Newton's laws of gravity: the particles will fall to the surface as fast as any dropped rock (I believe the gravity on the Moon is 1.63 meters / sec per sec ?). The particles will follow a fairly flat trajectory since the gravity on the moon is so low, about 1/6th Earth gravity. A rock dropped on earth takes about 1 second to fall 10 meters (1 G = 9.80665 m / s per s) On the moon that rock will take over 3 seconds to to fall 10 meters. So unless I am completely mistaken, I would think that dust clouds would clear rather quickly...
Wwhat @ Mar 26th 2008 9:42PM
Ironically the astronauts that first tried to drive a vehicle on the moon found that the dust thrown up was such an issue that they had to fashion a improvised protection over the wheels, and now many years later damn NASA makes the same mistake and lets the wheels open.. and these people think they'll ever go to mars successfully..
It's all so disappointing.
CraigJ @ Mar 26th 2008 10:43PM
@Wwhat: Well, it is a prototype: maybe they plan to add the fenders later? From:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2008/H08-068.html
"Some, all or none of these features may be selected for the design of a rover that eventually goes to the moon. NASA's lunar architects currently envision pressurized rovers that would travel in pairs, with two astronauts in each rover. The new prototype vehicle is meant to provide ideas as those future designs are developed"