Near Surface Lunar Dust Instrument

Exploration Architecture Corporation, MDA Alliance Space Systems, and GoVentures, Inc. agree to collaborate on development of a lunar site characterization instrument for measuring solar wind plasma interactions with lunar dust at near surface heights. Development of the NSLDI would allow for flexibility in integration of the instrument as a secondary payload into a variety of governmental agency and/or commercially planned lunar lander missions. High fidelity direct measurement of the charged lunar dust environment to determine electron temperature, density, and electric potential are needed to provide data to serve future mission needs for lunar outpost site development. Characterizing the lunar dusty plasma environment at near surface elevations help mission planners in the identification of optimum landing sites, emplacing infrastructure, and evaluation of alternative dust management and removal techniques.