Measuring Moon Dust to Fight Air Pollution – NASA

Moon Dust and Air Pollution: Protecting Astronaut Health and Earth’s Environment

Introduction

Moon dust, also known as regolith, is not like the particles found on Earth. It is abrasive and clings to everything it touches. This posed a challenge to astronauts and valuable space hardware during NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon.

The Impact on Astronaut Health

During the Apollo 17 mission, astronaut Harrison Schmitt experienced what he called “lunar hay fever” after breathing in the dust. He suffered from symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, and a sore throat. While the symptoms went away, the concern for human health has driven NASA’s extensive research into lunar soil.

Managing Moon Dust on Earth

The need to manage lunar dust to protect astronaut health and critical technology has also proven beneficial on Earth in the fight against air pollution.

Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP)

Lunar Outpost Inc., a contributor to NASA’s NextSTEP program, has developed an air-quality sensor system to detect and measure the amount of lunar soil in the air. This sensor system also has applications for detecting pollutants on Earth.

The Space Canary Sensor

Originally based in Denver and now located in Golden, Colorado, Lunar Outpost Inc. developed an air-quality sensor called the Space Canary. This sensor was integrated into Lockheed Martin Space’s NextSTEP lunar orbit habitat prototype. The sensor, now rebranded as Canary-S (Solar), offers distinct advantages over traditional equipment.

Applications on Earth

The Canary-S sensor, powered by solar energy and a battery, is now meeting the need for low-cost, wireless air-quality and meteorological monitoring on Earth. It can measure a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. The device transmits data using cellular technology, sending it to a secure cloud every minute. The data can be viewed and analyzed through Lunar Outpost’s web-based dashboard or a customer’s database.

The oil and gas industry utilizes the Canary-S sensors for continuous, real-time monitoring of fugitive gas emissions. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service uses them to monitor forest-fire emissions.

Life-Saving Technologies

The collaboration between NASA and industry innovations has led to the development of life-saving technologies like the Canary-S sensors. These sensors have the potential to protect not only astronauts in space but also firefighters and individuals exposed to air pollution on Earth.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Targets

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Indicators

• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5) in cities (population-weighted).
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan that addresses climate change and disaster risk reduction.
• Indicator 15.9.1: Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounts.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5) in cities (population-weighted).
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan that addresses climate change and disaster risk reduction.
• Indicator 15.9.1: Progress towards national targets established in accordance with Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nasa.gov