Engineers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, have launched a series of complex experiments to analyze the effects of spacecraft engine exhaust on lunar surfaces. By simulating the interaction between engine plumes and lunar regolith, the agency seeks to mitigate risks associated with dust, rocks, and debris being displaced during landings.
The testing takes place within a 60-foot spherical vacuum chamber, providing a controlled environment to gather data for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2028. According to testing lead Ashley Korzun, understanding these physical interactions is essential for protecting landers, scientific payloads, and nearby equipment from high-velocity ejecta.
The current phase of testing utilizes an ethane plume simulation system, developed by NASA’s Stennis Space Center and operated by Purdue University, to generate 100 pounds of thrust. This system fires into a bin of Black Point-1, a material engineered to mimic the cohesive, jagged nature of lunar soil. Specialized cameras and instruments are recording data on crater formation, particle speed, and the distribution of debris during six-second test intervals.
A second phase of testing, scheduled for later this year, will incorporate a 3D-printed hybrid rocket motor from Utah State University. This motor will produce 35 pounds of thrust using solid propellant and gaseous oxygen to better simulate the heat and power of actual rocket exhaust.
The research is designed to be modular, allowing NASA to adapt the facility for future Mars missions by swapping lunar simulants for Martian-like sand and adjusting the chamber's pressure to reflect the Martian atmosphere. Daniel Stubbs, an engineer with the Human Landing Systems team, noted that the data collected will be vital for validating predictive models for both lunar and Martian exploration.
Source: NASA
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