Experimental Validation of Charged Lunar Dust Dynamics Simulations, Year 2

Current state-of-the-art (SOA) granular gas dynamics models used to explain rocket plume impingement physics have not taken into account the natural or induced electrostatic environment of the lunar surface, nor the effect of charged regolith grains being present in the plume plasma. Previous simulations from the FY20 CIF titled "Charged Particle Dynamics in the Lunar Environment" have incorporated some of these physics into the SOA discrete element method (DEM) modeling package LIGGGHTS. The simulation results remain to be experimentally verified in the laboratory due to descoping caused by COVID-19 restricting access to the ESPL. This proposed work will primarily focus on experiments utilizing Faraday cups and leveraging hardware that was built during the previous CIF to calibrate and improve the accuracy of the improved LIGGGHTS software package.

Electrostatically charged dust affects all lunar missions, so validating the models used to provide inputs to the design of these missions is imperative. With astronauts returning to the surface soon, there is an additional health risk that must be mitigated in addition to the issues posed to mechanical systems. An electrostatic lofting concept has been tentatively selected for a lunar gravity Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital flight opportunity scheduled to fly at the end of calendar year 2022. This concept focuses on exposing lunar regolith simulant to ultraviolet light so that photoionization may occur and induce lofting. Initial data from experiments performed as a part of this proposed work will inform the design of this flight experiment and results from the flight experiment will be used to further validate the simulations

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