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Moon Dust

We can learn a lot from studying Moon dust—and, the Moon's powdery surface presents challenges for human and robotic explorers.

Grayscale image of a barren landscape. The Sun is visible in a dark sky. In the foreground, scattered bootprints show where astronauts have worked. More bootprints and rover wheel tracks lead into the distance, towards a lumpy mountain range. The lunar surface appears to have a fine, powdery texture, with some rocks.

Moon dust is part of the lunar regolith, the dusty, rocky material that covers much of the Moon's surface. Scientists study lunar regolith to learn more about what the Moon is made of, how it formed, what has happened to it throughout our solar system's history, and how we can explore it safely. Moon dust can get everywhere—even inside of astronauts' lungs! The last humans to visit the Moon encountered a surprising hazard: "lunar hay fever", a respiratory response to breathing in dust from the regolith. Rovers, too, must account for the effects of Moon dust on their surface operations. The lunar regolith has much to teach us, and it requires special precautions to explore.

Explore Moon Dust Stories

  • 01

    Leveraging Lunar Regolith to Further Space Exploration 

    The tiny particles that make up Moon dust may be a challenge for astronauts to deal with, but they can also be an incredible resource. 

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    A striped bootprint is pressed into the powdery lunar soil.
    A close-up view of an astronaut's boot print in the lunar soil, photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the Moon.
    NASA
  • 02

    Measuring Moon Dust to Fight Air Pollution

    Tech designed to protect astronaut health and critical technology from lunar dust is also helping to combat air pollution on Earth. This air-quality sensor system measures Moon dust, forest fire emissions, and more. 

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    Astronauts at work on a lunar lander on the surface of the Moon, with their suits covered in Moon dust
    While astronaut Gene Cernan was on the lunar surface during the Apollo 17 mission, his spacesuit collected loads of lunar dust. The gray, powdery substance stuck to the fabric and entered the capsule causing eye, nose, and throat irritation dubbed “lunar hay fever.”
    NASA
  • 03

    NASA’s Artemis Science Instrument Gets Tested in Moon-Like Sandbox

    Before going to the Moon, scientists test lunar tools and techniques on Earth. These researchers are observing how simulated Moon dust interacts with hardware being developed to fly to the Moon with Artemis III astronauts.

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    Scientists and engineers tested NASA’s LEMS (Lunar Environment Monitoring Station) instrument suite in a “sandbox” of simulated Moon "soil."
    NASA
  • 04

    An Out-Of-This-World Problem

    Moon dust can be damaging to everything from lunar landers to spacesuits and human lungs if inhaled. To conduct extended human and robotic exploration on the Moon or Mars, we need to deal with dust.

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    In the foreground is a figure kneeling on a light grey surface, examining or holding something that is sifting through their gloved left hand. The person is wearing a spacesuit and a big, boxy backpack. A reflective visor that catches and reflects bright light, possibly from the Sun, draws the viewers eye. The background is black. In the distance, mechanical equipment or structures are visible, including a small and simple vehicle.
    An artist's rendering of a NASA Artemis astronaut working on the Moon's surface.
    NASA
  • 05

    NASA Experiment Sheds Light on Highly Charged Moon Dust

    Solar wind and ultraviolet light deliver electric charge to the Moon. Researchers are studying data from a recent suborbital flight test to better understand charged lunar regolith, or Moon dust, as NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the lunar surface with the Artemis campaign. 

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    Small spacecraft suspended from three blue-and-red parachutes descends over a mountain ridgeline.
    The New Shepard crew capsule descends under parachutes during its launch Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.
    Blue Origin

Learn More

Illustration of a cross section of the Moon.

What Is the Moon Made Of?

The Moon has a core, mantle, and crust. Nearly the entire lunar surface is covered by a rubble pile of charcoal-gray, powdery, and rocky debris called the lunar regolith.

Plants growing in small test tubes under growing lights. They are growing in lunar regolith.

Earth Soil vs. Lunar Regolith: What's the Difference?

Here’s how Earth’s soil and lunar regolith are different, and how further studies of lunar regolith can benefit NASA’s Artemis missions and beyond. 

In the foreground is a figure kneeling on a light grey surface, examining or holding something that is sifting through their gloved left hand. The person is wearing a spacesuit and a big, boxy backpack. A reflective visor that catches and reflects bright light, possibly from the Sun, draws the viewers eye. The background is black. In the distance, mechanical equipment or structures are visible, including a small and simple vehicle.

9 Phenomena NASA Astronauts Will Encounter at Moon’s South Pole

Sticky, razor-sharp, electrically charged dust... and more.

A rendering of Firefly's Blue Ghost 2 lunar lander on the surface of the Moon.

NASA Technology Helps Guard Against Lunar Dust

Defeating dust may be a small concern for most people on Earth, but for astronauts and spacecraft destined for the Moon or Mars, it is a significant hazard that must be mitigated.

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