A module based modeling framework for estimating lunar dust deposition due to human activities

Abstract

Lunar dust is considered to be one of the top challenges for enabling humans to have extended stays on the moon. Human activities such as module landings and launches, walking, rover operation and construction activities will inevitably produce a significant amount of dust. Therefore, it is important to estimate the potential range and intensity of dust deposition caused by these activities to minimize dust accumulation over time and for maintenance planning and execution. A modular model that correlates the dust deposition distribution with initial mean dust particle velocity, its mean ejected angle and the total amount of ejected mass is developed for an elementary mechanical movement. This modular model is further employed to form a modeling framework to estimate dust deposition of a trajectory based activity of similar repeated movements such as the landing process of a lander, walking and rover operation. The model forms a unified modeling framework for different trajectory-based activities and is shown to predict consistent and physically meaningful ranges and intensities of dust deposition provided reliable data to calibrate the model parameters.