Ever wondered why the moon's far side soil feels like flour? 🤔 Chang'e-6 mission returned samples in 2024, and scientists have just solved the puzzle!
Now, a research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has cracked the code 🎉 Their study was published this year in Nature Astronomy, shedding light on the far side's mysterious soil.
Key findings:
- Finer grains: Far-side soil is like flour, not sand, making it prone to clumping.
- Angular particles: Sharp, rough edges boost static cling.
- Harsher space weather: No Earth's magnetic shield 10 more micrometeorite impacts and charged particles.
The team used funnel and drum experiments to measure the angle of repose10—the steepest angle a pile of grains can hold. Chang'e-6 soil scored higher than near-side samples, behaving more like cohesive terrestrial soils 🧪.
Why does this matter? Future lunar bases on the far side will need to handle sticky dust that could gum up equipment and suits. Understanding its quirks now helps engineers design better landing gear, rovers, and habitats 🚀.
With these insights, we’re one step closer to smoother future missions on the moon’s hidden side. Who's ready for more lunar adventures? 🌕
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists decipher mystery of sticky soil on moon's far side
cgtn.com
