Simulations Show Lander Exhaust Could Cloud Studies of Lunar Ices
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Simulations show lander exhaust could cloud studies of lunar ices:
A new study led by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, shows that exhaust from a mid-sized lunar lander can quickly spread around the Moon and potentially contaminate scientifically vital ices at the lunar poles.
Computer simulations of water vapor emitted by a 2,650-pound (1,200-kilogram) lander-about a quarter of the dry mass of the Apollo Lunar Module-touching down near the Moon's south pole showed exhaust takes only a few hours to disperse around the entire Moon. From 30% to 40% of the vapor persisted in the lunar atmosphere and surface two months later, and roughly 20% would ultimately freeze out near the poles a few months after that.
Those results, published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, show that researchers' interest in studying the native ices in the Moon's poleward craters-ices that may date back several billion years-will need to be carefully considered during increased efforts to return humans to the Moon.
[...] "The interesting thing about Parvathy's work is that it shows very well that the effect, while small and temporary, is global," said Dana Hurley, a planetary scientist at APL and coauthor on the study.
Space organizations can expect volatile gases to significantly coat the lunar surface at well over 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the landing site.
The residue exhaust does eventually fade away, but Hurley points out that current plans for human lunar exploration mean it will happen more frequently and with much heavier landers.
"The results of this study drive the critical need to conduct the research we want to do about the lunar atmosphere and volatile deposits while they are relatively pristine," Hurley said.
Journal Reference:
Parvathy Prem, Dana M. Hurley, David B. Goldstein, et al. The Evolution of a SpacecraftGenerated Lunar Exosphere, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006464)
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