Modal Optimized Vibration dust Eliminator (MOVE): An Active/Passive Dust Mitigation Technology for Spaceflight Exploration

Exploring the Moon in a sustainable manner requires contending with the adverse effects caused by lunar regolith, in particular the fine dust. Lunar dust is abrasive and electrostatically charged, resulting in a problematic tendency to disrupt the function of hardware situated on the lunar surface. Dust buildup on thermal regulators can greatly decrease thermal performance by increasing solar absorptivity (through darkening the surface) and decreasing effective rejection temperature (by adding a low-conduction layer on top of the surface). Over the course of three EVAs on Apollo 17, dust covering the Lunar Roving Vehicle radiator system continuously decreased radiator effectiveness, resulting in the battery exceeding its maximum rated survival temperature. The Modal Optimized Vibration dust Eliminator (MOVE) concept is an active dust mitigation system for lunar thermal radiators that uses vibrational excitation at targeted modal frequencies to mitigate dust adhesion with the assistance of passive dust mitigation coatings. During testing under a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract with NASA Johnson Space Center, MOVE used standard and custom lunar highland dust simulants to verify and validate models, as well as to aid with scaling the methodology to several radiator solutions raising the Technology Readiness Level from 2 to 4. Additional test variables included radiator fixation points, orientations with respect to gravity, with passive coatings and uncoated surfaces, and atmosphere versus rough vacuum conditions. Proof-of-concept testing demonstrated >90% removal of dust from the test panels. The low power and low mass solution has the advantage of easy integration into new or retrofitted radiators. Select results are highlighted within this paper as Paragon is working to commercialize the technology as humanity continues to push to explore the cosmos.