Title:
Innovative Lunar Dust Mitigation Technologies - Performance Evaluation on the Moon and in Ground Simulators
Agreement Number:
20STDPO07
Agreement Value:
$1,549,000.00
Agreement Date:
Apr 28, 2021 - Oct 31, 2022
Description:
During the Apollo program, lunar surface
operations were hampered by the effects of
fine, pervasive, highly adhesive lunar dust.
The missions have shown challenges like
obscuration of vision, clogging of
equipment, dust covering/abrasion of many
sensitive external surfaces, degradation of
seal and thermal performance. It became
clear that before extensive lunar
exploration efforts can continue, strategies
must be developed to mitigate the effects of
lunar dust.
The project aims at providing a solution to
this challenge by advancing the development
and enhancement of Integrity Testing
Laboratory's (ITL) unique cornerstone lunar
Dust Mitigation Technology for sensitive
materials of external space structures that
will be used in robotic and manned missions
for Moon exploration. One of the major tasks
in this project will include participating
in a coming Lunar mission that will allow
testing ITL samples and prototype
spectrometers in real Lunar environment
conditions. The data from this Lunar dust
exposure experiment will be evaluated and
compared to data from ground-based exposures
of similar samples in ITL's upgraded lunar
environment simulator. Another major task in
the project will see building two prototypes
of portable spectrometers for evaluation of
major thermal optical properties for use in
planetary space environments. The results
from this project will serve as a foundation
for creating greater capacity to simulate
the Moon's dusty environment for further
testing and validation on Earth of Integrity
Testing Laboratory's technologies.
Organization:
Canadian Space Agency
Expected Results:
The Research component of the program provides financial support to organizations to conduct space related research and development in priority areas. It will support targeted knowledge development and innovation to sustain and enhance the Canadian capacity to use space to address national needs and priorities in the future.
Location:
Markham, Ontario, CA L3R 2R7
Reference Number:
003-2021-2022-Q2-05280
Agreement Type:
Contribution
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Type:
For-profit organization
Additional Information:
The amount allocated covers more than one
fiscal year.
Late Disclosure:
Expected quarter 1 of 2021-2022
Disclosed quarter 2 of 2021-2022
Recipient's Legal Name:
Integrity Testing Laboratory Inc.
Program:
Class Grant and Contribution Program to Support Research, Awareness and Learning in Space Science and Technology
Program Purpose:
This program supports knowledge development and innovation in the CSA's priority areas while increasing the awareness and participation of Canadians in space-related disciplines and activities.
The Research Component aims to support the development of science and technology; foster the continual development of a critical mass of researchers and highly qualified people in Canada; and support information gathering and space-related studies and research pertaining to Canadian Space Agency priorities.