Dust Vacuum System (DVS)

Develop an integrated system that serves as a vacuum cleaner, and an emergency cabin atmosphere clean-up device.  As a vacuum cleaner, the Dust Vacuum System is portable and battery powered.  It uses a standard NASA battery, and a power toggle that is compatible with spacesuit gloved hand operations.  The Dust Vacuum System can be stored in the airlock or cabin and exposed to vacuum.  At the end of a lunar EVA, the vacuum cleaner can remove lunar dust from the space suit and other surfaces prior to opening the inner hatch.  The main filter uses a novel inertial filtration method that is capable of capturing and containing a minimum of 200 grams of lunar soil while maintaining low system pressure drop.    

As an emergency cabin atmosphere clean-up device, the Dust Vacuum System is connected with two air purification beds.  One of the air purification beds removes fine water mist from the fire extinguisher, smoke particulates, acid gases, and volatile organic compounds.  The second air purification bed catalytically converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.   

Specific FY26 tasks include:

• Develop a fully functional smoke eater that will be demonstrated and tested at White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) as a supplementary test of battery fire safety testing under elevated oxygen conditions.
• Develop a fully functional vacuum cleaner with the capacity to hold a minimum of 200 grams of lunar soil simulant. The vacuum cleaner design will allow for storage bin emptying.

Project offers a reduced size portable vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning lunar dust from the outside of a spacesuit and other surfaces in a pressurized cabin environment after an EVA. This lunar dust vacuum cleaner using an inertial filter can contain a minimum of 200 grams with a system size smaller than 4 liters. The vacuum cleaner is powered using a standard NASA battery that is compatible with EVA operations.  The vacuum cleaner can be recharged using a common battery recharge system.  It can be used by a crew member wearing a spacesuit.  The inertial filter allows for good vacuum performance even when the filter contains a minimum of 200 grams of lunar dust.  The Lunar Dust Vacuum cleaner can serve as the fan/blower to power a portable air purification device.  In the event of fire or chemical release, the Lunar Dust Vacuum can be connected to air purification beds for emergency cabin atmosphere cleanup.  

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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