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Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor
Completed
TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 6)
Description
The Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor is designed to move lunar regolith particles with the use of dynamic electric fields rather than conventional rotating or vibrating actuation. The technology concept involves generating electric fields by placing alternating high voltage on electrodes of the conveyor surface. A suborbital flight test aims to enable researchers to assess and advance this dust-tolerant technology for future in situ resource utilization (ISRU) operations on the Moon.
Summary of Flight Test
2025-02-04 The Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor (ERC) simulated lunar gravity flight experiment, led by Dr.
Aaron Olson of NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Electrostatics & Surface Physics Laboratory, was successful. The experiment demonstrated the conveying of lunar regolith simulant with only the use of electrodynamic forces (no moving parts or mechanical actuation) in vacuum and simulated lunar gravity environment. This technology could be further developed for a variety of conveying, sampling, and dust mitigation applications on the lunar surface.
Benefits
The Electrodynamic Regolith Conveyor is designed to move lunar regolith particles with the use of dynamic electric fields rather than conventional rotating or vibrating actuation. The technology concept involves generating electric fields by placing alternating high voltage on electrodes of the conveyor surface. A suborbital flight test aims to enable researchers to assess and advance this dust-tolerant technology for future in situ resource utilization (ISRU) operations on the Moon. This has the potential to benefit NASA missions and the commercial space industry.
Details
| Technology area | Robotic Systems > Manipulation > Sample Acquisition and Handling |
| Program | Flight Opportunities (FO) |
| Lead organization | Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, FL |
| Start date | 2021-09-01 |
| End date | 2025-09-30 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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