Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023
Updated / Tuesday, 25 Apr 2023 14:13
The polymer and metal samples were produced in the School of Chemical
Sciences at DCU
By Brian O\u0027Donovan
By Brian O'Donovan
Work & Technology Correspondent
A lunar rover carrying samples developed in a lab at Dublin City
University (DCU) is due to land on the moon later today.
Sciences and were affixed to the wheel of the Rashid Lunar Rover to
study the way moon dust sticks to different surfaces.
Moon dust is very sharp, dry, fine and difficult to reproduce on Earth.
It can interfere with electronics and can stick to everything from
astronauts' boots to gloves, suits, cords and tools.
The aim of the mission is to study the adhesion of the dust onto
different surfaces using a high-resolution camera to gain an
understanding on how it can be reduced.
Dr Susan Kelleher of DCU with Science Foundation Ireland-funded
researcher Dr Graham Reid
Eight sample surfaces, a combination of polymer and metal samples with
micro and nano-scale patterns on their surface, as well as unpatterned
control samples, were prepared for the lunar rover in the labs at DCU
with the help of funding from both Science Foundation Ireland and the
Irish Research Council.
The samples were launched to the moon on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in December.
"This project will help us to understand how we can solve the sticky
problem of moon dust for future human or robot explorers on the moon,"
Dr Susan Kelleher said.
"Working with these types of materials teaches us even more about
developing new surfaces that can kill bacteria, which will have
applications here on Earth, for example, in healthcare settings and in
the International Space Station too," she added.