Lunar Dust and Duct Tape . ... Credit Copyright: Apollo 17 , NASA Explanation: Why is the Moon dusty ? ... On the Moon, the long history of micrometeorite bombardment has blasted away at the rocky surface creating a layer of powdery lunar soil or regolith . ... On the lunar surface in December 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed to repair one of their lunar rover's fenders in an effort to keep the "rooster tails" of dust away from themselves and their gear. ...