Not many people know that when the Perseverance rover left for Mars, it took with it several pieces of the astronaut’s suit, each about the size of a small stamp. The aim was, once on the Red Planet, to expose them to their environmental conditions and test how well each tissue resisted them. Above all, there was interest in regolith dust analysis, since it is known that on the moon it is composed of sharp particles, very irritating and abrasive, both for skin and mucous membranes. Fortunately, it turns out that Martian dust is much more spherical. But that’s where the good news ends.
Helmet to gloves. In total, Persistence was carrying five samples of astronaut suit fabric. This included a section of polycarbonate helmet visor; A piece of a cut-resistant material, called Vectran, is used to make the gloves; Two types of Teflon, which have dust-resistant, non-stick properties; and a material commonly used for spacesuits, called ortho-fabric. The latter consists of several layers. Such as Nomex, a material found in firefighting suits to be fire resistant; Gore-Tex, which is waterproof but breathable; and Kevlar, a material used in bulletproof vests because of its great resistance. These are very useful tissues on Earth, but do they protect against the plight of Mars?
Persistence goes into science mode. Tissue samples were mounted on the SHERLOC calibration target, an instrument on the rover’s robotic arm. Once exposed to the outdoors, the rover’s X-ray spectrometer (PIXL) was used to analyze the composition of particles attached to each sample. So, it was found that the dust particles are very spherical, because they are shaped by the wind, but their structure and shape can be very dangerous.
Very small and poisonous. Some dust particles are so small that they are inhaled and enter the bloodstream, where they can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain. This is an organ that can be damaged by regolith. And its composition is also not very encouraging, because it contains substances such as sulfur, iron, perchlorate and other toxic compounds. Perchlorates are, in fact, among the main culprits that make Mars such an inhospitable place.
Law of static electricity. According to the analysis conducted by persistence, static electricity decides which grain size adheres to which surface. The particles are electrically charged when they collide in the air, so they can be attracted to oppositely charged tissue like a magnet. However, each material attracts different sized grains. It has been found that fine particles stick together during driving and drilling, and organic polymers, such as Teflon, collect fine dust most easily.
Possible solution. Identifying the problem is important in thinking about possible solutions for future colonization of the Red Planet. Scientists who analyzed the persistence results believe that using liquid nitrogen jets like car washes or even creating self-cleaning suits for astronauts could be useful. Every effort should be made to ensure that no hazardous particles remain in their suits when they return to the safety of their ship and remove their spacesuits.
Elon Musk even talked about setting foot on Mars for the first time in 2028. Perhaps the date isn’t going too well, considering that by then, we’ll be back on the moon. In fact, he is said to have subsequently spoken informally about the 2030s. Still, it’s important to look for protective measures. In such situations, improvisation is a bad decision.
Picture | Astronaut simulation on Mars. Pexels.
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