Evaluations Of Lunar Regolith Simulants

Abstract

Apollo lunar regolith samples are not available in quantity for engineering studies with In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Therefore, with expectation of a return to the Moon, dozens of regolith (soil) simulants have been developed, to some extent a result of inefficient distribution of NASA-sanctioned simulants. In this paper, we review many of these simulants, with evaluations of their short-comings. In 2010, the NAC-PSS committee instructed the Lunar Exploration Advisory Group (LEAG) and CAPTEM (the NASA committee recommending on the appropriations of Apollo samples) to report on the status of lunar regolith simulants. This report is reviewed here-in, along with a list of the plethora of lunar regolith simulants and references. In addition, and importantly, a special, unique Apollo 17 soil sample (70050) discussed, which has many of the properties sought for ISRU studies, should be available in reasonable amounts for ISRU studies.

Publication Date

7-1-2016

Publication Title

Planetary and Space Science

Volume

126

Number of Pages

1-7

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2016.04.005

Socpus ID

84992309947 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84992309947

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