Characterization of lunar dust and a synopsis of available lunar simulants

Understanding the formation and evolution of the soil and dust of the Moon addresses the fundamental question of the interactions of space with the surface of an airless body. The physical and chemical properties of the lunar dust, the <20 mu m portion of lunar soil, are key properties necessary for studies of the toxicity and the electrostatic charging of the dust. These properties have been largely overlooked until recent years. Although chemical and physical studies of the <20 mu m portion of lunar soil have been the topic of several studies, there is still need for further studies, primarily of the <1 mu m particles. This paper presents a review of the studies of lunar dust that have been conducted to date. As many preparations for future exploration or science activities on the Moon require testing using lunar soil/dust simulants, we also include a brief review of past and current simulants. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.