Before astronauts return to the Moon through NASA's Artemis program, equipment used in the missions must demonstrate it can withstand the lunar environment. Engineers at the Lunar Development and Test Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston are addressing one of space exploration's central challenges: lunar dust.
Lunar dust differs significantly from sand on Earth. The dust is sharp and abrasive, and it clings to surfaces, according to the facility's work on Artemis hardware preparation.
