A recent study conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Central Florida has found that liquid nitrogen could be used to clean lunar dust from surfaces, potentially providing a new way to clean up the Moon’s surface. The study also revealed a potential underground source of helium, which could be used to power spacecraft and other space exploration activities.

The study was conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Central Florida’s Department of Physics, led by Professor Christopher J. O’Neill. The team used a combination of laboratory experiments and computer simulations to analyze the properties of lunar dust and its interaction with liquid nitrogen. They found that liquid nitrogen could effectively clean lunar dust from surfaces, and that the process could be done without damaging the surface.

The team also discovered that the lunar dust contains a significant amount of helium, which could be extracted and used as a fuel source for spacecraft. This could potentially provide an alternative to traditional fuel sources, such as hydrogen and oxygen, which are more expensive and difficult to transport into space. The helium could also be used to power other space exploration activities, such as mining operations or robotic exploration missions.

The findings of this study could have significant implications for future space exploration. Not only could liquid nitrogen be used to clean up the Moon’s surface, but it could also provide a potential source of fuel for spacecraft and other space exploration activities. This could open up new possibilities for space exploration, and help to reduce the cost and complexity of space missions.

The team’s findings are currently being published in the journal Nature Communications. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA.

Source: Plato Data Intelligence: PlatoAiStream