Roads could be laid on the Moon by using lasers to melt lunar soil into a more solid, layered substance on which lunar rovers can be driven without kicking up clouds of harmful dust.
This is the conclusion of an international team of researchers who explored the potential of the process here on Earth using simulated lunar dust.
Dust — which can damage equipment — is a particular problem on the lunar surface thanks to the relatively low gravity, which keeps it in the air for longer when disturbed.
The advantage of turning lunar soil directly into paving slabs is that it uses local resources — reducing the material needed to be brought, at great expense, from Earth.
Although further work will be needed to refine the process, the present study proves the viability of the concept, which could be tested in the future on the Moon itself.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to Daily Express US
READ MORE: Left-over Apollo tech is causing moonquakes on the lunar surface, study finds
The study was undertaken by engineer Juan‑Carlos Ginés‑Palomares of Germany’s Aalen University, and his colleagues.
The team said: “The generation of suspended dust when moving a vehicle across the lunar surface is a major risk for lunar exploration.
“When lunar dust is in contact with the exploration equipment, it can lead to different damages on the instruments.”
For example, they noted, previous studies found sandblast damage on the Surveyor III spacecraft caused by the dust kicked up when the Apollo 12 mission landed on the Moon.
The researchers continued: “One of the first steps towards establishing a lunar base is the creation of infrastructure elements, such as roads for rovers and landing pads, as these constructions can help with dust mitigation.”
DON’T MISS:
First-ever afterglow from colliding ice giant planets spotted[ANALYSIS]
Rare planet may be missing piece in the puzzle of how other worlds are formed[INSIGHT]
NASA’s Hubble telescope spots mysterious explosion in an ‘unexpected place’[REPORT]
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
In their study, the team melted a material known as “EAC-1A” — developed by the ESA as a substitute for real lunar soil — with carbon dioxide lasers of varying strengths and sizes, up to a maximum of 12 kilowatts and 100 millimetres (about four inches) across.
Experimentation revealed that criss-crossing or overlapping the bath of the laser beam tended to lead to cracking.
The team developed a strategy involving a 45-millimetre-diameter laser beam to produce vaguely triangular, hollow-centred shapes — each around 10 inches across — that can be placed in an interlocking pattern.
Laying down these shapes, the team said, could allow for the easy creation of lunar roads — as well as other surfaces like landing pads.
The full findings of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Follow our social media accounts on https://www.facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and @ExpressUSNews
Source: Read Full Article