Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: NASA

It is an early, up-front message from 20^th century Apollo moonwalkers.

The Moon is one big dust bowl. It can jam up machines. It is abrasive to delicate science gear, and adheres to space suits. It’s also a hazard to humans breathing in the stuff within the comfy confines of a lunar habitat after a hard day’s work on the Moon’s surface.

Apollo 17 helmets and dusty spacesuits stuffed inside lunar lander following the last human treks on the Moon in December 1972.
Credit: NASA

“Mitigation technologies that quickly and effectively remove dust particles (down to microns in size) with minimal consumables, as well as meet tight mass, volume, and power constraints, are needed for future long-term lunar exploration,” explains Charles T. Pett, a PhD student
in aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland.

Lunar dust haunted Apollo moonwalkers. Can that dust offer a way to mitigate climate change on Earth?
Image credit: NASA/Azita Valinia

Handheld device

To tackle the talcum powder-like Moon dust, enter the “Gecko Roller” – a handheld device that functions in the same way as a common terrestrial lint roller.

The idea was inspired by studying the skin membrane of a gecko, a small lizard. Due to a multitude of microscopic hairs on their feet, these little critters can cling and climb with great finesse.

Pett and his research colleagues suggest a bit of biomimicry.

Top left shows topographical characteristics of gecko toes. Bottom left, scanning electron microscope images of manufactured gecko skin microstructure. Right, Gecko Roller after removing flour from a hard surface. Image credits: C. T. Pett, et al.

Cling appeal

“The synthetic gecko skin membrane is a silicone elastomer with micron-scale molded hair-like structures that increase the adhesion between the dust and the elastomer,” the research team explains. “The Gecko Roller requires no power when operated by an astronaut, but can become reusable via electrostatic cleaning if power is available.”

In preliminary work, the Gecko Roller has shown its cling appeal to effectively remove dust from hard surfaces, as well as a spacesuit fabric swatch at lab temperature and pressure.

Someone tell GEICO that the Gecko Roller is a dust busting insurance policy need for 21^st century Moon walking crews.

Image credit: GEICO