Dust Mitigation (DM)

All lunar systems will require dust mitigation strategies, whether they be operations/architectural, passive or active technologies. The Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) Dust Mitigation Project provides groundwork for a long-term dust mitigation strategy. The Project collects information on the state-of-the-art solutions that currently exist (via market analysis and development of a Best Practices Guide Book), develops NASA standards for classifying the definition, testing and mitigation of dust, develops low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies (such as piezoelectric-driven dust, plasma/e-beam dust lofting, and electrodynamic dust repellers/collectors, coatings and soft polymeric materials) and integrate mature technologies into systems that require dust mitigation solutions (such as Electrostatic Dust Shield & Patch Plate Materials). This project is a portfolio of the following 6 tasks:

• Task 1 - Patch Plate Materials Compatibility Assessment
• Task 2 - Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) for the Lunar Environment
• Task 3 - Dust Tolerant Mechanisms
• Task 4 - Dust Mitigation Best Practices Guide
• Task 5 - Lunar Occupancy Dust-Surface Separation Technologies (LO-DuSST)
• Task 6 - Dusty Environments Classifications
  

• • Reduces health hazard associated with incidental dust exposure
  • Improves functioning and increases life of equipment
  • Enables broader array of missions on the lunar surface, longer lifetime for deployed systems, and a greater probability of mission success
  • Defines clear dust standards that systems must withstand and qualify to
  • Provides a comprehensive guide for avoiding lunar dust problems and the current state-of-knowledge to all stakeholders ``
    

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — 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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.