Dust plumes lofted by a lunar lander threaten operations and assets. To inform prediction and protection, we are developing a lander-mounted laser-based instrument to obtain empirical particle-size distributions in ejecta plumes. The particle size distribution is determined from laser propagation decay at multiple wavelengths. We present laboratory experiments on static particle suspensions of independently known particle-size distributions in liquid, and of dropped particle showers in an evacuable chamber, to confirm theoretical expectations for laser propagation decay constants. We predict the laser-propagation decay-constant spectrum for plumes of lunar simulant generated by tethered rocket tests. We describe progress on a prototype system for tethered rocket tests and some of the calibration issues.
Laser Particle Sizer for Lunar Lander Plumes
19th Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments ; 2024 ; Miami, Florida
Earth and Space 2024 ; 95-105
10.10.2024
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
NTRS | 1987
DataCite | 2024
|ASCE | 2008
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