• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.62.1-62.1
• /
• 2015

Polarization of the light reflected off the Moon provides information on the size and composition of the particles in the lunar regolith. The mean particle size of the regolith can be estimated from the combination of the albedo and degree of polarization, while the color ratio of the parallel-component polarization (CP) has been suggested to be related to the amount of nanophase metallic iron (npFe^0) inside the regolith particles. Both the mean size and npFe^0 abundance of the particles have been used as maturity indicators of the regolith since sustained impacts of high energy particles and micro-meteoroids cause comminution of particles and production of npFe^0. Based on our multispectral polarimetric observations of the whole near side of the Moon in the U, B, V, R, and I bands, we compare the maps of the mean particle size, CP, and the optical maturity (OM). We find that the mean particle size map is sensitive to the most immature (~0.1 Gyr) soil, the OP map to the intermediate immaturity (a few 0.1 Gyr) soil, and the CP map to the least immature (~1 Gyr) soil.

• Advances in Computational Design
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.141-153
• /
• 2019

This research is comprised of virtually simulating behavior while experiencing low gravity effects in advance of real world testing in low gravity aboard Zero Gravity Corporation's (Zero-G) research aircraft (727-200F). The experiment simulated a drill rig penetrating a regolith simulant. Regolith is a layer of loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock on surfaces of the Earth' moon, asteroids and Mars. The behavior and propagation of space debris when drilled in low gravity was tested through simulations and visualization in a leading dynamic simulation software as well as discrete element modeling software and in preparation for comparing to real world results from flying the experiment aboard Zero-G. The study of outer space regolith could lead to deeper scientific knowledge of extra-terrestrial surfaces, which could lead us to breakthroughs with respect to space mining or in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). These studies aimed to test and evaluate the drilling process in low to zero gravity environments and to determine static stress analysis on the drill when tested in low gravity environments. These tests and simulations were conducted by a team from Texas A&M University's Department of Construction Science, the United States Air Force Academy's Department of Astronautical Engineering, and Crow Industries

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.79-85
• /
• 2024

Nowadays, the trend in lunar exploration missions is shifting from prospecting lunar surface to utilizing in-situ resources and establishing sustainable bridgehead. In the past, experiments were mainly focused on rover maneuvers and equipment operations. But the current shift in trend requires more complex experiments that includes preparations for resource extraction, space construction and even space agriculture. To achieve that, the experiment requires a sophisticated simulation of the lunar environment, but we are not yet prepared for this. Particularly, in the case of lunar regolith simulants, precise physical and chemical composition with a rapid development speed rate that allows different terrains to be simulated is required. However, existing lunar regolith simulants, designed for 20th-century exploration paradigms, are not sufficient to meet the requirements of modern space exploration. In order to prepare for the latest trends in space exploration, it is necessary to innovate the methodology for producing simulants. In this study, the basic framework for lunar regolith simulant development was established to realize this goal. The framework not only has a sample database and a database of potential simulation target compositions, but also has a built-in function to automatically calculate the optimal material mixing ratio through the particle swarm optimization algorithm to reproduce the target simulation, enabling fast and accurate simulant development. Using this framework, we anticipate a more agile response to the evolving needs toward simulants for space exploration.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.57-71
• /
• 2011

Granitic regolith profile in Goseong, southern Korea, reveals various types of corestones from unweathered round fresh rocks to decomposed rock cores with unweathered spheroidal rock-layers on outer surface, deep weathering profile with 10m in depth, and red saprolite usually cited as related to high temperature climatic environment. In respect of this optical features such as the depth and the color of the profile, Goseong granitic profile may be regarded as products of paleoclimate with more high temperature and humidity than the present. But it is revealed that halloysite is a predominant clay mineral in upper part as well as lower part by XRD analysis. Halloysite is dominant mineral in hydrothermal alteration milieu. The leaching rate of chemical components is up to 97%, very high compared to common granite profiles with 60~70% in Korean peninsula. So, it is assumed that granitic red regolith in Goseong is a product of hydrothermal alteration, not meteoric weathering.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.31 no.7
• /
• pp.53-63
• /
• 2015

For the success of future missions to the Moon and other similar cosmic environments, understanding and utilization of the lunar regolith has become essential. However, due to the scarcity and unaffordability of real lunar regolith on Earth, a number of lunar regolith simulants (e.g., JSC-1; NASA) have been developed for experimental purposes. However, Korea does not have its own lunar regolith, even though the country is planning to actively pursue lunar and space missions in the 2020s. Thus, this study has been conducted to develop a Korean lunar simulant prototype via basic feasibility attempts (e.g., raw material selection, particle size and chemical composition simulation). Finally, the first prototype of Korea's own lunar simulant has been obtained, and denominated as KLS-1.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2010.06a
• /
• pp.1951-1957
• /
• 2010

Study of Lunar exploration is progressed and manned lunar exploration is planned. In order to explore in Lunar, we need habitat to stay for a long time and system that mine, classify and transport materials. Lunar has dust that is very light-tiny. That is on the air for a long time so there are problems to adject transportation system such as vehicle. However, it can solve the problem to use pipe transportation system. This transportation system help materials move continually and is more effective than other transportation system such as train or vehicle. For those positive points, some experts studied about tube transportation systems. I introduce these system and find out factors that can be used in Lunar regolith transportation system. I suggest Lunar regolith transportation system, using the factors.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.103.2-103.2
• /
• 2011

We measure the degree of polarization of the lunar regolith to map the distributions of the age and the particle size. We use a 12cm refracting telescope with a 2k-square pixel color CCD (R band) and a polarization filter. The angular resolution obtained is 3.02 km/pixel. Our goal is to obtain a map of the lunar particle size distribution on the lunar regolith and then that of the age distribution. Polarization of the light scattered by lunar surface contains information on their mean particle size. The mean particle size of the lunar surface has been decreased by continued micro-meteoroid impact over a long period. One can estimate the age of the lunar surface if the mean particle size is known. Particle sizes can be measured through observations of polarization because the mean particle size is related to the maximum polarization and albedo. The age and the particle size of the lunar regolith can give vital information for the future lunar exploration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.284-290
• /
• 2014

To successfully explore the moon by lunar lander, it is essential to guarantee the safe landing of lunar lander. Therefore, efficient shock absorption system of lunar lander should be designed in order to reduce landing impact force. Also, for more practical design of lunar lander, it is important to consider the effect of lunar regolith. In the line of thought, finite element model of lunar lander considering the effect of lunar regolith is developed. To reduce landing impact force, optimization of shock absorption system for lunar lander has been carried out. In optimization, sequential approximate optimization method based on meta-model is used. Through the result of optimization, it is verified that landing impact force on lunar lander can be efficiently reduced by the present optimization procedure.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.45.3-46
• /
• 2015

Space weathering agents such as micrometeoroids and solar wind particles continuously age the uppermost regolith of the lunar surface by comminuting as well as darkening and reddening. Among several maturity indices, we investigate median grain size () and optical maturity (OMAT) of the crater rim walls. Crater rim wall is the most immature place among the impact crater features because the vertical mixing process by mass-movement can enhance the gardening of regolith and the supply of immature materials in the deeper layer to the surface. More than 140 simple and complex craters were considered. Both and OMAT values of the inner rim wall initially increase as the crater size increases until ~10-20 km, then decrease. This transition crater size happens to correspond to the transition diameter from simple to complex craters. For larger craters, i.e., complex craters, it is clear that the inner rim wall of the craters formed in recent eras tend to remain fresh and become mature along with time. For the simple crater case, smaller craters are more mature, which is opposite to the case of complex craters. This is thought to be because smaller craters become flattened more quickly, thus have smaller vertical mixing in the regolith due to mass-movement. We will also discuss on the maturity indices of the crater rim walls at high latitudes as a function of the position angle to see the latitude dependence of the space weathering process.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.65-67
• /
• 2015

The surfaces of most atmosphereless solar system objects are referred to as regolith, layers of loosely connected fragmentary debris, produced by meteorite impacts. Measurements of light scattered from such surfaces provides information about the composition and structure of the surface. A suitable way to characterize the scattering properties is to consider how the intensity and polarization of scattered light depends on the particle size, composition, porosity, roughness, wavelength of incident light and the geometry of observation. In the present work, the effect of porosity on bidirectional reflectance as a function of phase angle is studied for alumina powder with grain size of $0.3{\mu}m$ and olivine powder with grain size of $49{\mu}m$ at 543.5 nm. The optical constants of the alumina sample for each porosity were calculated with Maxwell Garnett effective medium theory. On using each of the optical constants of alumina sample in Mie theory with the Hapke model the variation of bidirectional reflectance is obtained as a function of phase angle with porosity as a parameter. Experimental reflectance data are in good agreement the model. For the olivine sample the effect of porosity is studied using Hapke (2008).