by Editorial Staff | January 3, 2016
Star Wars would have you believe that the greatest challenges to space travel is asteroids, lack of resources like water or fuel, or even the threat of unfriendly, intelligent alien life. But in reality, scientists are finding that the biggest obstacle to today's space travel is dust. Yes, space dust.
While our human bodies have natural defenses (like nose hairs) against dust, some dust particles are small enough to bypass our own "deflector shield" if you will... and settle in lung tissues and airways, causing injury to our lungs. This is similar to the health hazards of particle pollution or even how coal dust can harm the lungs of coal miners.
In zero gravity, dust doesn't just settle to the ground, away from our noses and mouths as it would on Earth, but floats freely, easily getting into lungs and eyes.
As Neil Armstrong discovered, this dust is also a key feature of our very own moon and most likely other planets. As they found, beyond the zero gravity effect, planetary dust sticks to astronauts through static electricity has sharp edges, and follows them back into their spacecraft, making it more likely that the dust will enter their lungs and cause harm. Neil and his team even said they could smell and even taste this moon dust!
Beyond damaging the lung health of astronauts, space dust also wreaks havoc on equipment and ventilation systems, which are also necessary for survival in space.
In March of 2015, NASA conducted an ISS airlock experiment to test how space dust affects the lungs, hoping to identify how lungs perform in space.
Tests like these will be extremely important to the future of space travel and colonization. As you may know, the red hue of Mars is due to the fact that the planet is covered with red dust. According to NASA, this planetary dust is sometimes blown into dust storms, ranging from tiny dust storms that can look like tornadoes to larger ones that can cover the entire planet. Dust may challenge the ability to establish this permanent settlement, and special attention to lung health both on Mars and in space will be key to survival.
Learn more about how particle pollution threatens the health of humans here on our home base—Earth.
- Sources
- IMAGE: http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/may/nasa-simulator-successfully-recreates-space-dust/#.VoQXy_krKUk
- http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Futura/Testing_astronauts_lungs_in_Space_Station_airlock
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16140136
- http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-mars-k4.html
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9200637
- http://www.gizmag.com/iss-airlock-experiment/36473/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23590267
- http://www.mars-one.com/
- http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/lungs_dust.html
Blog last updated: August 30, 2023
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the field of space exploration and its associated challenges, my extensive knowledge encompasses various aspects of space travel, ranging from astronaut health to planetary conditions. The article you've provided touches upon a fascinating yet often overlooked obstacle in space exploration – the pervasive and potentially hazardous nature of space dust.
The article correctly identifies that space dust poses a substantial threat to both human health and equipment. While popular culture, as exemplified by Star Wars, often emphasizes external threats like asteroids or alien encounters, the reality is that minuscule particles, imperceptible to the naked eye, can be equally, if not more, problematic.
Neil Armstrong's experience on the moon highlights the tangible impact of space dust. The article mentions that beyond the zero gravity effect, the dust adheres to astronauts due to static electricity, has sharp edges, and can infiltrate their spacecraft. Armstrong and his team even reported being able to smell and taste the lunar dust, underscoring its presence and potential health risks.
Moreover, the article provides insights into the impact of space dust on lung health. In zero gravity, where dust doesn't settle as it does on Earth, it can easily find its way into astronauts' lungs and eyes, causing injuries akin to particle pollution hazards faced on our home planet. NASA's experiments, such as the ISS airlock test in March 2015, demonstrate the agency's proactive approach to understanding and mitigating these risks, emphasizing the importance of such studies for the future of space travel and colonization.
Additionally, the article connects the challenges posed by space dust to potential issues in establishing a permanent settlement on Mars. The red hue of Mars is attributed to the prevalence of red dust on the planet's surface, which can lead to dust storms. These storms, ranging from small tornado-like disturbances to larger ones covering the entire planet, pose a significant challenge for future colonization efforts. Special attention to lung health becomes crucial not only for astronauts in space but also for the success of any potential settlements on Mars.
In summary, the article adeptly navigates the intricate relationship between space dust, astronaut health, and the challenges of planetary exploration. It underscores the necessity of ongoing research and experiments, like those conducted by NASA, to unravel the complexities of space dust and its impact on both human physiology and the practicalities of space travel and settlement.
