During the Apollo missions, astronauts found that lunar dust is abrasive and tends to cling to surfaces, complicating the operation of equipment.

NASA is tackling the challenges posed by lunar dust through the Regolith Adherence Characterization (RAC-1) instrument, which is part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.

The CLPS initiative aims to promote commercial delivery services to the Moon, thereby supporting industry growth and advancing lunar exploration.

The RAC-1 instrument will measure dust accumulation rates during landing and lander operations to identify materials that effectively repel dust.

Dennis Harris, manager of the RAC payload at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, stressed the importance of selecting appropriate materials to mitigate the effects of lunar dust.

Lunar regolith is highly abrasive and adheres to surfaces due to its electromagnetic charge, complicating operations on the Moon.

The findings from the RAC-1 tests are expected to improve the durability of essential equipment for long-term lunar missions.

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center manages seven of the ten payloads on the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander, showcasing a collaborative approach to lunar exploration.

The RAC-1 is designed to test 15 different materials, including fabrics and coatings, to evaluate their ability to resist sticking to lunar dust.

Data collected from the RAC-1 tests will assist NASA and its partners in enhancing the design of spacecraft, spacesuits, and habitats for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis program.

The Moon's surface is covered in a layer of lunar regolith, which consists of gravel, pebbles, and fine dust that presents significant challenges for future missions.