Lunar Dust and Duct Tape
Explanation:
Why
is the Moon so dusty?
On Earth, rocks are weathered by wind and water, creating soil and sand.
On the Moon, the history of constant micrometeorite bombardment
has blasted away at the rocky surface creating a layer of powdery
lunar soil or
regolith.
For the Apollo astronauts and their equipment,
the pervasive, fine,
gritty
dust
was definitely a problem.
Fifty
years ago, on the lunar surface in December 1972,
Apollo 17 astronauts
Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan needed to
repair
one of their rover's fenders
in an effort to keep the
rooster
tails of dust
away from themselves and their gear.
This picture reveals the wheel and fender of their dust covered
rover along with the ingenious application of spare maps,
clamps, and a grey strip of "duct tape".
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
