The jagged edges of what’s commonly referred to as lunar regolith, can create some serious issues when it comes to critical things for living on the moon, like keeping airlock seals tight or not ripping apart the lungs of astronauts. This stuff’s not all bad. If we can find a way to mine and collect the regolith we can utilize it to help build our future lunar colonies. We can possibly use it to provide shielding from meteorites, thermal extremes, radiation, both natural and man-made, and the blast effects of rockets landing and taking off. Oh, and the material contains He-3 which could, you know, solve the world’s energy crisis.


  1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Spacevidcast and GeekLoop, Gerry Papenburg. Gerry Papenburg said: RT @Spacevidcast NASA’s 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge – 09.10.15 http://ff.im/-9QKf8 [...]

  2. QuarkSpin says:

    This reminds me of a funny post I saw on Twitter recently:

    @NLSI @lukedones NLSI does not condone the consumption of moon dust, including simulants. In fast, we advise strongly against it.

    NSLI is the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Don't eat the lunar regolith, kids (real or manufactured).

  3. QuarkSpin says:

    This reminds me of a funny post I saw on Twitter recently:

    @NLSI @lukedones NLSI does not condone the consumption of moon dust, including simulants. In fast, we advise strongly against it.

    NSLI is the NASA Lunar Science Institute. Don't eat the lunar regolith, kids (real or manufactured).

  4. Tim Bailey says:

    Nice work, Cariann! Great descriptions of regolith, why it is so tough (on people & machines!) and how it can be useful. Also a very chipper clip!! Keep up the humor & fun. (also, great hair day!!)