Detection and Handling of an Electric Discharge on the Moon for Dust Protection, Safe Operation, and Insitu Resource Utilization
Abstract
The discharge on the Moon may occur due to the amount of plasma that travels by the Moon surfaces from the Sun (or from the cosmic plasma sources in the galaxy). The model we are proposing for the Lunar environments is the following: When plasma packets (electrons and protons) approach the polar regions of the Moon, they travel along with the solar radiation that creates shadows on the Lunar surfaces, airless objects.
The Lunar rotation rate, latitude and crater topography control various time durations of the sun lit surfaces and surfaces that are covered with shades. Due to higher mobility of electrons, the shaded areas are populated primarily with electrons, thus are charged negatively in respect to sunlit areas that are charged positively.
When the shaded surfaces prolong their time exposure to the electrons (e.g. permanently shadowed areas), the boundary between the permanently shadows region and where the Sunlight occurs for extended amount of time, becomes a place where electric discharge takes place. For this model of electric discharge occurrence, we have a supporting evidence from the craters near the polar regions of the Moon.