Blue Origin-NASA teams conduct simulated lunar tests to prepare for life on the Moon

A team led by Blue Origin recently conducted a simulated dust reduction test to find ways how to mitigate lunar dust on equipment while on Moon. team also included members from NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Lockheed Martin Space for tests that were conducted at Kennedy Space Center. 

“Living and working on Moon will require a clear understanding of operating in unique lunar environment,” Blue Origin said in a statement. “Lunar dust, or regolith, is “sticky” and clings to materials, so dust removal is an important focus of research.”

During tests conducted in a closed facility, spacesuit-cl members evaluated a combination of tools while simulating tasks on lunar surface. “Lessons learned from this test series will inform extravehicular activity concept of operations for future lunar missions, demonstrating key elements of spacecraft crew dust mitigation,” company said.

This development marks Jeff Bezos-owned firm’s entry into operations beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) as company has exclusively been involved in space tourism. Blue Origin currently offers rides to Karman line, internationally recognised boundary of Space, 100 kilometres above Earth’s surface. However, it also placed a bid for NASA's multi-billion dollar contract to develop a Human Landing System (HLS) for future Moon missions, which was won by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Blue Origin says that recent ‘system risk reduction’ tests focussed on dust mitigation techniques at different locations on Moon with special consideration to materials and human factors. 

Preparations for next Moon landing

NASA, in partnership with European Space Agency (ESA), is preparing for next Moon mission under Artemis Program which takes off on August 29. It is under this program that agencies are planning to set up sustainable lunar bases on Moon to prepare for missions to Mars and beyond. To support development of se bases, NASA has also planned a space station named 'Lunar Gateway' around Moon which would provide a platform for in-orbit research and a means of accommodation for astronauts. 

As part of preparations, ESA is also collaborating with a team of companies led by Thales Alenia Space to develop equipment that could produce oxygen from lunar dust. This project is currently at its initial stages and will proceed once protos submitted by companies prove viable. 

Image: Twitter/@Blue Origin