How thick does dust get?
1.1 Dust as an occupational hazard Dust particles are usually in the size range from about 1 to 100 µm in diameter, and they settle slowly under the influence of gravity.”
How thick is the dust on the moon?
Lunar dust generally connotes even finer materials than lunar soil. There is no official definition as to what size fraction constitutes “dust”; some place the cutoff at less than 50 μm in diameter, while others put it at less than 10 μm.
What is the micron size of dust?
Airborne particles are usually described in microns. Generally speaking, the human eye can see debris and dust that are approximately 25 microns in size.
How thick was the dust dirt level on the surface of the moon where astronauts landed?
Assuming a constant influx rate (even though it certainly wasn’t) the earth would collect a layer of dust only 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) thick in 4.5 billion years and the moon half that.
Is moon dust a drug?
Even though there were no known illnesses due to exposure, lunar dust is a concern because it has properties comparable to that of fresh-fractured quartz, a highly toxic substance. The health risk to astronauts increases as dust particles go deeper into the lungs.
What does Moon Dust do?
The potential damage from inhaling this dust is unknown but research shows that lunar soil simulants can destroy lung and brain cells after long-term exposure. On Earth, fine particles tend to smoothen over years of erosion by wind and water; lunar dust, however, is not round, but sharp and spiky.
Why is dust bad?
Dust includes tiny particles of debris and dead skin. Its small size means it can be inhaled and potentially evoke an immune reaction. Such allergic reactions may be minor or major depending on the individual. Dust can also serve as a “fomite”, potentially carrying viruses and possibly passing on infections.
What does moon dust feel like?
Feel it–it’s soft like snow, yet strangely abrasive. Taste it–“not half bad,” according to Apollo 16 astronaut John Young. Sniff it–“it smells like spent gunpowder,” says Cernan. How do you sniff moondust?
Why is it illegal to own a moon rock?
A lunar meteorite is a piece of the Moon. This is why many people think that owning a Moon Rock is illegal – because the Apollo samples are illegal to own by private citizens. Apollo Moon Rocks are NASA and US government property which cannot be sold or exchanged to private citizens.
Is it legal to mine the moon?
Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.
Is mining in space Legal?
International space law allows space mining, specifically the extraction of natural resources. It is generally understood within the space law authorities that extracting space resources is allowable, even by private companies for profit.
What happens if we mine the moon?
So, the proceeds from the sale of any resources mined on the Moon would have to be equally distributed around the Earth, rather than kept by the country or company that extracted them. What’s unfortunate is that the treaty also called for an international body to govern the exploitation of the Moon’s natural resources.