NASA has launched a $150,000 challenge to find a way to stop astronauts on the Moon building up static charge that could spark against spacecraft or damage equipment.
01Summary
- 01NASA opened a Lunar Grounding Challenge with submissions due on 15 January and a prize pot of $150,000.
- 02The agency wants to stop astronauts becoming 'a walking, high voltage capacitor' during moon missions.
- 03NASA is aiming to land astronauts at the lunar south pole in 2028 on Artemis 4 or 5, the first lunar landing mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.
- 04The problem is expected to be worst in lunar shadows and permanently shadowed regions, where simulations suggest charge can build up on spacesuits.
- 05NASA wants a small system that can work in extreme temperatures and protect up to four moonwalks over as long as 10 days.
02Why it matters
The issue could affect astronaut safety and mission hardware on future Moon landings. A spark or electrical arc could damage spacesuits, ignite a fire risk in a spacecraft, or cause shocks when crew re-enter the lander.
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