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Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)
When exploration vehicles land on the Moon, rocket plumes create regolith ejecta and cratering that can be deleterious to the lander and surrounding structures. To understand these effects, researchers must develop empirically based models for soil erosion rate and size distribution of particles resulting from the landing plume. The four-laser Ejecta STORM instrument measures the density and sizes of particles during terrestrial simulations of lunar landings. This research is expected to inform model development, enabling the creation of effective, realistic mitigation plans.
Problem Statement
There is an outstanding need for empirically derived equations describing the soil erosion rate and resulting particle size distributions of lunar landing plume-induced ejecta. Improving modeling efforts would enable the creation of realistic mitigation plans. This experiment will test the Ejecta Sheet Tracking, Opacity, and Regolith Maturity (STORM) instrument’s ability to measure regolith ejecta particle velocities and size distributions.
Technology Maturation
The Ejecta STORM is currently at TRL 4/5 and exists as a breadboard prototype that has been validated in the lab and in a partially relevant environment. The flight program will attempt to demonstrate (1) integration with a lander and (2) operation in flight conditions with simulated lunar plume effects. It is expected to advance to TRL 6 postflight.
Summary of Flight Test
2020-11-12 The flight tests were successful. Even though we were flying in Earth’s atmosphere, we were able to adjust the conditions on the ground to make the simulated dust flow in a manner very similar to actual lunar landings. Our laser-based instrument Ejecta STORM was operated on the Xodiac rocket to identify any integration problems that might occur between the rocket, the instrument, the blowing regolith below the rocket, the outdoor lighting conditions, and the realistic dynamics of dust and rocket flight. We modified the instrument’s settings after every flight to fine-tune the measurements, and we found it was able to get very high quality data that will help NASA manage blowing dust during actual lunar landings. We did identify a few problems that need to be modified to make the instrument better. The Flight Opportunity Program was extremely valuable in maturing this technology to support a return to the Moon.
2023-09-12 & 2023-10-03 The tests flights provided the realistic blowing of dust under a rocket exhaust that we needed to develop image processing algorithms. Those algorithms are at the core of this new technology. The motions and variations in the dust cannot be mimicked in a laboratory environment, but they are what strain the processing algorithms the most, so having a high fidelity dataset is crucial to proving that this instrument is worthy to fly on a lunar mission.
This versatile technology uses attenuation and side-scattering of light to measure both density and particle size of plumes from landers. This would benefit future NASA missions and the commercial space industry.
Future Customers
• NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions
• Rover-based planetary science missions
• Crewed missions to the Moon and other bodies
• Lunar in-situ resource utilization efforts
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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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