Humanity is heading back to the moon, this time to stay. An innovation from the College of Engineering and Computing could be key to the quest's success.
NASA's Artemis Program plans to build the first-ever base camp on the lunar surface. The agency seeks to generate scientific discoveries, economic benefits and inspiration for a new generation of explorers.
Artemis' success will depend in large part on protecting technology like rovers and excavation tools from the harsh elements of space. To help, FIU's Plasma Forming Laboratory has developed an innovative coating material to shield structures at their movement and pivot points—the chinks in their armor.
This fall, a sample of the coating is heading to the International Space Station, where it will be mounted to a platform outside the facility for exposure to space. The coating will then be analyzed for its resistance to radiation.
Radiation can interrupt signal processing in electronics and shorten the service life of structures.
"By attaching the material to the International Space Station, we can get close to simulating the real radiation that structures will face on the moon," says Professor Arvind Agarwal, chair of the department of the mechanical and materials engineering department and director of the Plasma Forming Lab.
