Electrostatic disruption of lunar dust particlesThe possibility that dust particles might explode catastrophically on the lunar surface due to electrostatic charging is examined. For the dark side along the terminator zone, dust balls and compact stony particles of micron and submicron sizes will be blown up if their surface potential is as low as a kilovolt negative. This mechanism does not operate on the sunlit side because the surface potential is only 3.5-20 volts positive.
Document ID
19760060765
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Rhee, J. W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md.; Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind., United States)