DUSTER: a multi-sensor instrument to study dust transport and electrostatic removal for exploration missions

One major environmental constraint during exploration missions is the presence of charged dust-like particles, which are present on the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids. From an analysis of the effects of lunar dust on Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) systems during the six Apollo missions that landed on the lunar surface, it was found that these effects can take many forms such as external vision obscuration, false instrument readings, dust coating and contamination, loss of traction, clogging of mechanisms, abrasion, thermal control problems and seal failures. One of the most serious effects is the compromising of astronaut health by irritation and inhalation of lunar dust.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to characterise the properties of the dust particles present on the exploration sites and their transportation mechanisms to enable efficient mitigation techniques to be put in place.

The overall objective of the DUSTER project is to develop instrumentation and technologies to study dust particles and electrostatic transportation for planetary and small body exploration missions. Specifically, the aim is to design, manufacture and test in a relevant environment a compact multi-sensor instrument for in situ analysis of dust properties (mechanical and electrical) and electrostatic transportation that can be used on a small lunar lander. To that end, the instrument includes:

- A dust collector: electrodes biased at high potential to attract/collect dust particles, coupled to an electrometer

- Langmuir probes

- E-field probes

Using this instrument, the following parameters will be derived:

- Charging level of dust as a function of the environmental parameters (illumination, plasma density and temperature)

- (gravity + cohesive forces)/charge ratio distribution of dust layer

These two parameters will allow the determination of the electric field needed to attract/collect dust according to the environmental conditions (illumination, plasma density and temperature), which, among other applications, will allow designing electrostatic dust mitigation devices and dust sample collectors.