Description: The Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) Dust Mitigation effort provides groundwork for a long-term dust mitigation strategy. The effort also seeks to collect information on the state-of-the-art solutions that currently exist, develop low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies, and integrate mature technologies into systems that require dust mitigation solution. In addition, Mars is covered with a layer of dust that has been homogenized by global dust storms. Dust,leviated by these storms aswell as by the frequent dust devils, is the dominant weather phenomenon on Mars. NASA’s Mars exploration rovers have shown that atmospheric dust falling on solar panels can decrease their efficiency to the point of rendering the rover unusable. Dust covering the surface of the moon is expected to be electrostatically charged due to the solar wind, cosmic rays, and the solar radiation itself through the photoelectriceffect. Electrostatically charged dust has a large tendency to adhere to surfaces. The Apollo missions to the moon showed that lunar dust adhesion can hinder manned and unmanned exploration activities. The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) which can lift, transport and remove particles from surfaces with no moving parts, will be demonstrated for the first time on the lunar surface. The EDS is an active dust mitigation technology that uses electric fields to move dust from surfaces and to prevent dust accumulation on surfaces. This technology, developed in the Electrostatics and Surface PhysicsLaboratory at NASA Kennedy Space Center, will show the feasibility of self-cleaning glass and thermal radiator surfaces. In addition to dust removal, the EDS will apply lunar dust to these surfaces using the new reduster technology which will lift and transport dust from the lunar surface and transport it to the desired location without moving parts or gasses. The EDS will be released from a fifth leg of the lander and positioned directly onto the lunar surface to maximize dust contact. High resolution images will determine the dust removal efficiency of the EDS on the lunar surface.

Benefits: Technology is needed to move dust and prevent dust accumulation on surfaces in space. The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) sensor provides the necessary dust removal capability for this environment for the commercial Lunar Payload Services and upcoming Artemis missions. Utilizing this technology will also benefit the ISS program as well as any Lunar, Martian, or Gateway platforms as well. Enable technology developers to raise the TRL of several existing dust mitigation solutions through payload testing on near term Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions.Provide technology developers with opportunities for direct infusion into human-rated designs and long-term architecture plans. Provide proof of concept of technology for later infusion to larger scale devices such as solararrays, optical systems, spectrometers, viewports, thermal radiators, batteries, power systems, rovers, as well as on fabrics for human rated spacesuits. Incorporate any lessons learned from the demonstration back into the technology for further refinement into extraterrestrial applications.