Developing an Anorthositic Lunar Regolith Simulant

Paper number

IAC-06-A3.6.09

Author

Ms. Melissa Battler, University of New Brunswick, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Jim Richard, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Dale Boucher, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. John Spray, University of New Brunswick, Canada

Year

2006

Abstract

We must increase our understanding of planetary regoliths, as future human missions to both the Moon and Mars will rely on these surface materials for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) to produce fuel, water, and other life support and construction materials. There are no natural lunar regolith analogues on the Earth, and supplies of existing lunar simulants are currently limited or running out, and may not be compositionally representative of typical lunar regolith. To date, all major lunar simulants produced have been based on basalt; however the bulk of the lunar bedrock - including some potential ISRU landing sites, and likely much of the south pole region - is dominated by anorthosite-norite-troctolite (ANT) suite rocks. Therefore, it is particularly important to gain an understanding of the physical/mechanical behavior of anorthositic regolith. To prepare for upcoming robotic ISRU missions, equipment must be tested on the Earth using a good physical/mechanical simulant.  The goal of this study is to develop an anorthosite-based physical/mechanical lunar regolith simulant, in order to assist Electric Vehicle Controllers (EVC) Ltd. and the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) Inc. with lunar drilling and excavation equipment design.

Lunar regolith is an unconsolidated material covering the entire surface of the Moon. It is a complicated substance unlike any material found on the Earth, due to the lack of an atmosphere and atmospheric weathering processes on the Moon. Regolith is composed of particles that were derived either from lunar bedrock, or from older regolith, which was formed when repeated meteoroid impacts pulverized the lunar bedrock, over-turning and mixing it, until it became a fine powder. Particles are heterogeneously mixed, and can range in size from microscopic to several meters or more in diameter. Particles are angular in shape, which has implications for regolith physical properties (e.g., abrasive to machinery and damaging to human respiratory systems).

The following methodology has been followed: (1) select suitable source materials for simulant, and determine target grain size distribution based on Apollo data; (2) create simulant components via crushing and other procedures; (3) perform chemical and mechanical testing and analysis of simulant; analyse mineralogy, and grain size and shape distribution, in addition to various other engineering properties; (4) compare simulant to Apollo samples; (5) determine how to run analogue drilling and excavating tests with maximum fidelity; and (6) use simulant to test robotic equipment.

Abstract document

IAC-06-A3.6.09.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-A3.6.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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