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In Situ Measurements of Lunar Dust at the Chang'E‐3 Landing Site in the Northern Mare Imbrium
Author(s) -
Li Detian,
Wang Yi,
Zhang He,
Zhuang Jianhong,
Wang Xiaojun,
Wang Yongjun,
Yang Shengsheng,
Sun Zezhou,
Wang Xianrong,
Chen Liping,
Yao Rijian,
Zou Xin,
Ma Jinan,
Cui Yang,
Wang Xilai,
Li Cunhui,
Zhang Haiyan,
Li Xiongyao,
Gao Xin,
Cui Xinyu,
Zhang Biao,
Li Wenfeng,
Lin Hongyu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2019je006054
Subject(s) - astrobiology , lunar orbit , moon landing , apollo , deposition (geology) , environmental science , geology , remote sensing , aerospace engineering , physics , geomorphology , engineering , zoology , sediment , spacecraft , biology
Lunar dust is regarded as the most crucial environmental problem on the Moon, and related research has crucially important scientific and technological interests. Here, we first reported the in situ measurements of lunar dust at the Chang'E‐3 landing site in the northern Mare Imbrium using temperature‐controlled sticky quartz crystal microbalance. The results showed that a total deposition mass at a height of 190 cm above the lunar surface during 12 lunar daytimes in the northern Mare Imbrium was about 0.0065 mg/cm 2 , corresponding to an annual deposition rate of ~21.4 μg/cm 2 , which is comparable with that of Apollo's result to some extent. The present researches are strategically important for future human and robotic lunar expeditions, and can provide a valuable reference for the design of dust protection for onboard payloads long‐term exposure to the lunar environment.