Investigating Lunar Regolith Adhesion Through the Lunaris Payload
摘要
Interest in lunar science has grown rapidly, providing new opportunities for research missions. One such recent initiative, the Experiment on the Moon competition, was won by a team from AGH University of Krakow. The Lunaris payload is a 200 g device designed to study the adhesion of lunar regolith to surfaces with varying roughness. Adhesion of regolith is a significant challenge on the Moon due to its abrasive and electrostatically charged nature, yet there is hardly any in situ data available to understand this phenomenon. Using a lightweight, 3D-printed structure and a stepper-motor-actuated anchor plate with material samples, the payload captures regolith adhesion under lunar conditions with an onboard camera. This work addresses the critical challenge of regolith adhesion for future lunar missions, offering novel insights into lightweight payload design and surface interaction behavior. The payload is scheduled for deployment to the Moon no earlier than the end of 2026.