Utilizing Martian samples for future planetary exploration- Characterizing hazards and resources

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Whetsel, Charles; Levine, Joel S.; Hoffman, Stephen J.; Luckey, Clare M.; Watts, Kevin D.; Antonsen, Erik L.
• 署名单位: California Institute of Technology; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA); NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); Aerospace Corporation - USA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA); NASA Johnson Space Center; Harvard University; Harvard University Medical Affiliates; Massachusetts General Hospital
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-12743
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404251121
• 发表日期: 2025-01-14
• 关键词: mars; dust

摘要

One of the most surprising and important findings of the first human landings on the Moon was the discovery of a very fine layer of lunar dust covering the entire surface of Moon along with the negative impacts of this dust on the well- being and operational effectiveness of the astronauts, their equipment, and instrumentation. The United States is now planning for human missions to Mars, a planet where dust can also be expected to be ubiquitous for many or most landing sites. For these missions, the design and operations of key hardware systems must take this dust into account, especially when related to crew health and safety. Improved understanding of Martian dust characteristics can inform its potential to also perform transport of microorganisms, both those inadvertently brought to Mars by the astronauts, or, if Martian microorganisms exist, the potential for their inadvertent return to Earth with the astronauts. Careful planning and design are needed to assure that future missions do not violate the United Nations Outer Space Treaty (1967) signed by all spacefaring nations. In this paper, we review the impact of lunar dust on the Apollo missions and identify several questions about dust in the atmosphere (MSR) Campaign. These answers would not only provide humanity's exploration of the planet.