NASA is gearing up for a historic mission in 2025 with plans to explore the near side of the Moon, starting with Blue Ghost Mission 1. This spacecraft aims to study lunar regolith, often called “Moon dust,” which covers the surface and poses challenges for landing craft. Two key technologies are being tested: NASA’s Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS), designed to repel and remove dust using electric fields, and the Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS), which uses stereo imaging to track how plumes from spacecraft impact the regolith as the lander descends. These technologies will be deployed by Firefly’s Blue Ghost mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, landing in the 300-mile-wide Mare Crisium basin on the Moon’s near side.
The EDS and SCALPSS systems will help scientists understand how to mitigate dust accumulation, a critical issue for future lunar missions with heavier payloads. Replicating lunar conditions on Earth is challenging due to extreme temperatures, low gravity, radiation, and dust. This mission provides unprecedented access to the Moon’s surface, demonstrating technologies in their exact operating conditions.
Michael Johansen, Lead for NASA’s Game Changing Development program, explained that studying regolith will provide vital data for future missions, including those on Mars. Kristen John highlighted that while dust mitigation has advanced, there is still much to learn about lunar surface systems and infrastructure. Both efforts aim to develop technologies that can handle the harsh Martian environment.
This mission not only advances NASA’s lunar exploration but also paves the way for safer missions on Mars, where regolith poses additional challenges. By understanding lunar regolith behavior now, scientists can better prepare for future space travel in both our Moon and Mars.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/nasa-space-techs-favorite-place-to-travel-in-2025-the-moon