{ "spore": "profile", "id": "lunar-regolith-simulant", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "regolith", "name": "Lunar regolith simulants (JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1)", "abbreviation": "JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1", "role": "Earth stand-in for Moon soil in tests", "category": "regolith", "type": "lunar-simulants", "summary": "Lunar regolith simulants are powders made from Earth rock to imitate the soil of the Moon, so that in-situ construction methods and rovers can be tested on the ground. This profile covers three: JSC-1A, a NASA simulant that is compared with Apollo 14 average soil; LHS-1, a lunar highlands simulant that is about 74.4 wt% anorthosite; and LMS-1, a lunar mare simulant that is about 32.8 wt% pyroxene and 32.0 wt% glass-rich basalt.\n", "best_for": "Ground tests of soil handling and rover traction, with a stated oxide chemistry and bulk density range for JSC-1A", "weakest_at": "Matching real Moon soil exactly: this profile holds no sourced bulk density or specific gravity for LHS-1 or LMS-1", "identity": { "formula": "Crushed rock powder, not one compound. Chemistry is given as oxides (SiO2, Al2O3, FeO, TiO2, MgO, CaO). LHS-1 and LMS-1 are mixtures of anorthosite, glass-rich basalt and minor minerals.", "designations": [], "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table on the ARES JSC-1 and JSC-1A page; mineralogy tables on the CLASS LHS-1 and LMS-1 pages" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [], "applications": [ "rovers-and-surface-systems" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "bulk_density", "label": "Bulk density, JSC-1A (McKay et al., 1994, as cited on the ARES page)", "value": 1.5, "value_high": 1.7, "bound": "range", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant", "temperature": "not stated on the page", "state": "bulk, not stated on the page which compaction or moisture" }, "method": "Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing McKay et al. 1994", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "General Properties, Density table, bulk row", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "bulk_density", "label": "Bulk density, JSC-1A (Klosky et al., 2000, as cited on the ARES page)", "value": 1.57, "value_high": 1.64, "bound": "range", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant", "temperature": "not stated on the page", "state": "bulk, not stated on the page which compaction or moisture" }, "method": "Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing Klosky et al. 2000", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "General Properties, Density table, bulk row", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_gravity", "label": "Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Alshibli and Hasan, 2009, as cited on the ARES page)", "value": 2.9, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3 (unitless specific gravity)", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant", "temperature": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing Alshibli and Hasan 2009; the page says specific gravity of solids was measured to ASTM standards in the cited work", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Geomechanical Properties table, specific gravity row", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_gravity", "label": "Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Willman et al., 1995, as cited on the ARES page)", "value": 2.91, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3 (unitless specific gravity)", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant", "temperature": "not stated on the page" }, "method": "Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing Willman et al. 1995", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Geomechanical Properties table, specific gravity row", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_range", "label": "Particle size range, JSC-1A", "value": 10, "value_high": 1000, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant", "basis": "range given on the page; no median or mean reported" }, "method": "Range printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "General Properties table, particle size row (mean shown as dash)", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "SiO2, JSC-1A", "value": 47.71, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, SiO2 row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "tio2", "label": "TiO2, JSC-1A", "value": 1.59, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, TiO2 row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Al2O3, JSC-1A", "value": 15.02, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, Al2O3 row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "feo", "label": "FeO, JSC-1A", "value": 7.35, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed; FeO and Fe2O3 are reported separately in this column" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, FeO row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "mgo", "label": "MgO, JSC-1A", "value": 9.01, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, MgO row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "cao", "label": "CaO, JSC-1A", "value": 10.42, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)", "basis": "bulk oxide analysis as printed" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page", "status": "ground", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, CaO row, JSC-1/1A column", "source_detail": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "SiO2, LHS-1", "value": 49.12, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "basis": "bulk oxide, fused bead XRF with LOI listed separately in the same table" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in a peer-reviewed-style open-access paper by Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, bulk chemistry of major and minor elements in equivalent oxides, LHS-1 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Al2O3, LHS-1", "value": 26.29, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "basis": "bulk oxide, fused bead XRF" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, LHS-1 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "feo", "label": "FeO, LHS-1", "value": 3.2, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "basis": "cumulative FeO and Fe2O3 reported as FeO, per the table footnote" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, LHS-1 row, footnote", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "median_particle_size_d50", "label": "Median particle size (D50), LHS-1", "value": 59.79, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "method_basis": "particle size distribution as printed in the paper" }, "method": "Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 3, D50, LHS-1 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_span_d10_to_d90", "label": "Particle size span (D10 to D90), LHS-1", "value": 7.61, "value_high": 202.35, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "method_basis": "particle size distribution as printed in the paper" }, "method": "Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 3, D10 and D90, LHS-1 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "anorthosite", "label": "Anorthosite, LHS-1 mineralogy", "value": 74.4, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "basis": "mineral and lithology mix as printed" }, "method": "Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LHS-1 page", "status": "ground", "source": "class-lhs-1", "where": "Mineralogy table, Anorthosite row", "source_detail": { "title": "LHS-1 Lunar Highlands Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarhighlands/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "glass_rich_basalt", "label": "Glass-rich basalt, LHS-1 mineralogy", "value": 24.7, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LHS-1 lunar highlands simulant", "basis": "mineral and lithology mix as printed" }, "method": "Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LHS-1 page", "status": "ground", "source": "class-lhs-1", "where": "Mineralogy table, Glass-rich basalt row", "source_detail": { "title": "LHS-1 Lunar Highlands Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarhighlands/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "sio2", "label": "SiO2, LMS-1", "value": 48.22, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "bulk oxide, fused bead XRF with LOI listed separately in the same table" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, bulk chemistry, LMS-1 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "al2o3", "label": "Al2O3, LMS-1", "value": 12.4, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "bulk oxide, fused bead XRF" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, LMS-1 row", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "feo", "label": "FeO, LMS-1", "value": 8.79, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "cumulative FeO and Fe2O3 reported as FeO, per the table footnote" }, "method": "Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 2, LMS-1 row, footnote", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "median_particle_size_d50", "label": "Median particle size (D50), LMS-1", "value": 72.27, "bound": "exact", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "method_basis": "particle size distribution as printed in the paper" }, "method": "Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 3, D50, LMS-1 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size_span_d10_to_d90", "label": "Particle size span (D10 to D90), LMS-1", "value": 5.82, "value_high": 282.47, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "method_basis": "particle size distribution as printed in the paper" }, "method": "Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023", "status": "ground", "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Table 3, D10 and D90, LMS-1 column", "source_detail": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "pyroxene", "label": "Pyroxene, LMS-1 mineralogy", "value": 32.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "mineral and lithology mix as printed" }, "method": "Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page", "status": "ground", "source": "class-lms-1", "where": "Mineralogy table, Pyroxene row", "source_detail": { "title": "LMS-1 Lunar Mare Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarmare/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "glass_rich_basalt", "label": "Glass-rich basalt, LMS-1 mineralogy", "value": 32, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "mineral and lithology mix as printed" }, "method": "Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page", "status": "ground", "source": "class-lms-1", "where": "Mineralogy table, Glass-rich basalt row", "source_detail": { "title": "LMS-1 Lunar Mare Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarmare/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" } }, { "benchmark": "anorthosite", "label": "Anorthosite, LMS-1 mineralogy", "value": 19.8, "bound": "exact", "unit": "wt%", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "material": "LMS-1 lunar mare simulant", "basis": "mineral and lithology mix as printed" }, "method": "Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page", "status": "ground", "source": "class-lms-1", "where": "Mineralogy table, Anorthosite row", "source_detail": { "title": "LMS-1 Lunar Mare Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarmare/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Dust handling and dry air (electrostatic and surface forces)", "headline": "Fine dust sticks to surfaces. Electrostatic forces move it and surface forces hold it.", "effect": "Walton (2007) says static electric effects, from UV photo-ionization or triboelectric charging, are likely the main drivers of dust motion. Rover wheels, boots and rocket blast also move it. Once on a surface, van der Waals adhesion and static image forces are likely the strongest contributors to adhesion. The report is about lunar dust, not a test on these simulants.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "basis": "general lunar dust, from a 2007 NASA review; not a test on JSC-1A, LHS-1 or LMS-1" }, "source": "walton-2007", "where": "Section on dust motion and adhesion forces (Abstract and adhesion sections)" }, { "environment": "Repeated contact with fabric and hardware", "headline": "Lunar dust is extremely abrasive. The 2023 abrasion test used LHS-1D and OB-1A, not the simulants in this profile.", "effect": "Black and Fritz (2023) tested abrasion of Orthofabric, the xEMU suit fabric, with grain-size variants of LHS-1D and OB-1A. The paper says lunar dust is extremely abrasive and electrostatic, and that its grains stay sharp and jagged because nothing has weathered them.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "basis": "Orthofabric with LHS-1D and OB-1A grain sizes; the abrasion data are not for JSC-1A, LHS-1 or LMS-1" }, "source": "black-fritz-2023", "where": "Abstract; introduction; simulant description section" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "In a 2007 NASA study, JSC-1 killed human alveolar macrophages in vitro in a dose-dependent way. Its cytotoxicity was comparable to titanium dioxide and above saline, but below quartz. This is cell data, not human exposure data.", "ghs": [], "source": "latch-2007", "where": "Abstract" }, { "text": "The study used JSC-1 (an Arizona volcanic ash) and JSC-Mars-1 as the simulants, with TiO2 and quartz as reference dusts. The work was described as a prerequisite to testing real lunar dust.", "ghs": [], "source": "latch-2007", "where": "Abstract" }, { "text": "ARES says to read the JSC-1/1A and JSC-1A source material safety data sheets for specifications, PPE and hazards. Those SDS were not read in this run.", "ghs": [], "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Safety section" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Lunar dust clogged mechanisms, scratched optical covers and lenses, overheated r", "consequence": "Lunar dust clogged mechanisms, scratched optical covers and lenses, overheated radiators, compromised seals, and irritated eyes and lungs. The 2023 paper lists these effects among its concerns for dust exposure.", "source": "black-fritz-2023", "where": "Introduction" }, { "mode": "Dust is held to surfaces by van der Waals and static image forces, so it accumul", "consequence": "Dust is held to surfaces by van der Waals and static image forces, so it accumulates even on surfaces that do not touch the soil.", "source": "walton-2007", "where": "Adhesion sections" } ], "side_effects": [], "handling": [ { "text": "Record the simulant name, lot and supplier with every test, because the same name can mean different values across revisions.", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Overview and Safety sections" }, { "text": "Expect dust to lift and cling when wheels, boots or blast disturb the surface, and plan dust control for test beds.", "source": "walton-2007", "where": "Section on dust motion" } ], "mitigations": [] }, "uses": [ { "application": "rovers-and-surface-systems", "device": "Soil bins and test beds for rovers and surface vehicles", "example": "The CLASS Exolith page says the LMS-1 particle size distribution is targeted to match typical Apollo soils, and the ARES page compares JSC-1A with Apollo 14 average soil.", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Major Element Chemistry table, Apollo 14 Average Soil column" }, { "application": "rovers-and-surface-systems", "device": "Extreme Terrain Endurance Rig (XTERra) tire tests", "example": "NASA GRC runs XTERra with a bin of JSC-1A and volcanic rocks. The mobility guide describes its limits for tire tests.", "source": "creager-2025", "where": "Figure 19 caption and rig discussion" }, { "application": "rovers-and-surface-systems", "device": "Excavation and loose-soil geotechnical tests", "example": "ARES rates JSC-1/1A recommended for excavation and flow, and for geotechnical testing of loose simulant. It says the relative angular particles give reasonable excavation behaviour.", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Recommendation text; Excavation / Flow row" }, { "application": "mechanisms", "device": "Drilling tests", "example": "ARES rates JSC-1/1A recommended with reservations for drilling, because it is uncertain whether the highland abrasiveness is reproduced.", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Drilling row" }, { "application": "in-space-manufacturing", "device": "Oxygen production (ISRU) tests", "example": "ARES rates JSC-1/1A recommended with reservations for oxygen production. Its FeO is high (about 11 against 5 wt% in the lunar reference) and it has Ti-magnetite instead of ilmenite, so oxygen yields may be too high.", "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Oxygen Production row" }, { "application": "habitats-and-suits", "device": "Spacesuit fabric abrasion test", "example": "Black and Fritz (2023) abraded Orthofabric, the xEMU suit fabric, with grain-size variants of LHS-1D and OB-1A. The test did not use JSC-1A, LHS-1 or LMS-1.", "source": "black-fritz-2023", "where": "Abstract; simulant description section" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "JSC-1/1A simulant feedstock", "abundance": "Not read in this run. The ARES page gives no tonnage or producer share.", "producers": [], "critical_lists": [], "substitutes": [], "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "Overview section" }, { "subject": "LHS-1 and LMS-1 constituents", "abundance": "Not read in this run. No producer share or tonnage is printed.", "producers": [], "critical_lists": [], "substitutes": [], "source": "long-fox-2023", "where": "Section 2.1.2 Material sourcing; CLASS LHS-1 and LMS-1 pages" } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "NASA ARES, JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant project page", "type": "database", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html" }, { "title": "Long-Fox et al., Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies, Frontiers in Space Technologies 4 (2023)", "type": "paper", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023 }, { "title": "CLASS Exolith Lab, LHS-1 Lunar Highlands Simulant page (University of Central Florida)", "type": "database", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarhighlands/" }, { "title": "CLASS Exolith Lab, LMS-1 Lunar Mare Simulant page (University of Central Florida)", "type": "database", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarmare/" }, { "title": "Latch et al., Toxicity of Lunar and Martian Dust Simulants to Alveolar Macrophages (NASA NTRS copy)", "type": "paper", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070031950/downloads/20070031950.pdf", "year": 2007 }, { "title": "Walton, Adhesion of Lunar Dust, NASA/CR-2007-214685", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070020448/downloads/20070020448.pdf", "year": 2007 }, { "title": "Black and Fritz, Investigating Abrasion Effects of Lunar Simulant Grain Sizes on Candidate Spacesuit Fabric", "type": "paper", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230000758/downloads/Investigating%20Abrasion%20Effects%20of%20Lunar%20Simulant%20Grain%20Sizes%20on%20Candidate%20Spacesuit%20Fabric_JBlack_AFritz_Final2.pdf", "year": 2023 }, { "title": "Creager et al., Best Practices for the Testing of Planetary Roving Vehicle Mobility Systems and Tires", "type": "report", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20250003470/downloads/Mobility%20Test%20Best%20Practices%20-%20STRIVES%20July2025.pdf", "year": 2025 } ], "gaps": [ "Bulk density of LHS-1 and LMS-1: no value was found in the pages or the Long-Fox 2023 paper read here. The Exolith spec-sheet PDFs were not read.", "Specific gravity of LHS-1 and LMS-1: no value was found in the pages or paper read.", "Median particle size of JSC-1A: the ARES page gives a range only (mean shown as a dash).", "Oxide values for LHS-1 and LMS-1 may differ between Exolith sheets and the Long-Fox 2023 paper. Only the paper is used here, because the sheets were not read.", "Lunar day and lunar night environments: no source read here states that these simulants were used for those conditions, so tags.environments is empty.", "Cohesion, friction angle and Young modulus of JSC-1A: the ARES table lists them, but the columns do not match the rows reliably in the text, so none is recorded. Angle of repose (37 deg) is cited to Calle and Buhler 2020, which measured Apollo 14 sample 14163, not JSC-1A, so it is not recorded either.", "Moisture uptake and humidity ageing of all three simulants: not read.", "Human exposure data for any of the three simulants: not found. The toxicity data are in vitro (Latch 2007).", "Safety data sheets for LHS-1 and LMS-1, and the JSC-1/1A SDS that ARES points to: not read in this run.", "Mohs hardness of JSC-1/1A (4 to 5, ARES) and other rows not in the canonical list: not recorded." ], "story": { "why": "Lunar regolith simulants let engineers test digging, rover wheels and construction methods on Earth. This profile covers JSC-1A, a NASA simulant with a stated bulk density range of 1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3 and a specific gravity near 2.9, and two Exolith Lab simulants, LHS-1 and LMS-1. Their oxide chemistry is given as SiO2, Al2O3 and FeO. LHS-1 is anorthosite-rich, with 74.4 wt% anorthosite, and LMS-1 is pyroxene and basalt-rich.", "uses": [ { "where": "Rover and tire testing", "line": "NASA GRC runs tire tests in a rig with a bin of JSC-1A (XTERra). The mobility guide notes that there are currently no NASA standard lunar regolith simulants for the south pole." }, { "where": "Excavation and drilling", "line": "ARES recommends JSC-1/1A for excavation and loose geotechnical tests, and for drilling with reservations." }, { "where": "Oxygen production", "line": "ARES recommends JSC-1/1A for oxygen production with reservations, because of its high FeO and Ti-magnetite." }, { "where": "Spacesuit fabric", "line": "The 2023 abrasion test used LHS-1D and OB-1A, not the three simulants in this profile." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Bulk density", "line": "The ARES page gives bulk density ranges for JSC-1A from several studies. The widest range is 1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3, from McKay et al. 1994. Klosky et al. 2000 gives 1.57 to 1.64.", "scope": "material", "value": "1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3 (JSC-1A)" }, { "label": "Particle size", "line": "The ARES page gives JSC-1A a particle size range of 10 to 1000 µm and no median. For LHS-1 the median is 59.79 µm, and for LMS-1 it is 72.27 µm.", "scope": "material", "value": "10 to 1000 µm (JSC-1A)" }, { "label": "Chemistry", "line": "JSC-1A contains 47.71 wt% SiO2, 15.02 wt% Al2O3 and 7.35 wt% FeO in the McKay and Sibille column. LHS-1 has 49.12 wt% SiO2 and LMS-1 has 48.22 wt% SiO2.", "scope": "material", "value": "SiO2 47.71 wt% (JSC-1A)" } ], "compare": "The three simulants differ mostly in alumina and iron. JSC-1A has 15.02 wt% Al2O3 and 7.35 wt% FeO. LHS-1 has 26.29 wt% Al2O3 and 3.2 wt% FeO. LMS-1 has 12.4 wt% Al2O3 and 8.79 wt% FeO. The LHS-1 and LMS-1 values come from one paper, so they are directly comparable. The JSC-1A values come from a page that cites several older studies.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Bulk density", "benchmark": "bulk_density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Median particle size (D50)", "benchmark": "median_particle_size_d50", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "FeO (total iron)", "benchmark": "feo", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Record the simulant lot and source with every test, since the same name can mean different values between vendor revisions.", "Dust lifts and clings to surfaces. Plan dust control for test beds and wheels (Walton 2007)." ], "good_for": [ "Ground tests of soil handling, with a bulk density range printed for JSC-1A.", "Comparing an anorthosite-rich highlands simulant (LHS-1) with a basalt-rich mare simulant (LMS-1) on the same oxide and size basis." ], "watch_out": [ "The density figures for LHS-1 and LMS-1 are missing here, so do not use these simulants for mass or density calculations without a new source.", "Oxide values for LHS-1 and LMS-1 differ between vendor sheets and the open paper. Check which one a test used.", "JSC-1A values are ranges from several older studies, not one measurement.", "Oxygen production: ARES warns that JSC-1/1A has too much FeO for a lunar reference, so oxygen yields may read high." ], "verdict": "Use these simulants to test rover and construction ideas on Earth, but state which one and which values you used. JSC-1A has the most sourced physical numbers in this profile, and LHS-1 and LMS-1 have oxide and size data from one open paper but no sourced bulk density.", "recipe": { "line": "Crushed rock powders, not one compound. JSC-1A is crushed from basaltic ash (JSC-1/1A Source Material) mined at Flagstaff, Arizona, and has no additives (ARES). LHS-1 and LMS-1 are mixed from mineral and rock fragments in set proportions (CLASS Exolith Lab). Oxide values are bulk chemistry in wt% as printed, by fused bead XRF for LHS-1 and LMS-1. The JSC-1A column is the ARES JSC-1/1A column (McKay 1994, Sibille 2006 and others).", "parts": [ { "name": "Silicon dioxide", "symbol": "SiO2", "role": "Main network former; most of each simulant.", "share_percent": 47.71, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Titanium dioxide", "symbol": "TiO2", "role": "Minor oxide; higher in the mare simulant LMS-1.", "share_percent": 1.59, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Aluminium oxide", "symbol": "Al2O3", "role": "Highest in LHS-1, which is anorthosite-rich.", "share_percent": 15.02, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Chromium(III) oxide", "symbol": "Cr2O3", "role": "Trace. JSC-1A only; not in the Long-Fox LHS-1 or LMS-1 tables.", "share_percent": 0.04, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Iron oxide (FeO, total iron)", "symbol": "FeO", "role": "Iron. JSC-1A also has Fe2O3 at 3.44 wt%. LHS-1 and LMS-1 report cumulative iron as FeO.", "share_percent": 7.35, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Manganese oxide", "symbol": "MnO", "role": "Trace.", "share_percent": 0.18, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Magnesium oxide", "symbol": "MgO", "role": "Mafic oxide; highest in LMS-1.", "share_percent": 9.01, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Calcium oxide", "symbol": "CaO", "role": "Feldspar and pyroxene oxide.", "share_percent": 10.42, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Sodium oxide", "symbol": "Na2O", "role": "Feldspar oxide.", "share_percent": 2.7, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Potassium oxide", "symbol": "K2O", "role": "Minor alkali.", "share_percent": 0.82, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Phosphorus pentoxide", "symbol": "P2O5", "role": "Minor; JSC-1A contains natural phosphates per the ARES page.", "share_percent": 0.66, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" }, { "name": "Loss on ignition", "symbol": "LOI", "role": "Volatile loss on ignition as printed. Not an oxide.", "share_percent": 0.71, "source": "ares-jsc1a", "where": "JSC-1A: ARES Major Element Chemistry, JSC-1/1A column. LHS-1 and LMS-1: Long-Fox et al. 2023 Table 2 (LHS-1 and LMS-1 columns)" } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For testers", "lead": "A 2007 cell study and NASA dust reviews give hazard information. No safety data sheet for LHS-1 or LMS-1 was read, and no human exposure data was read for any of the three.", "points": [ { "label": "Lungs (cell data)", "line": "In a NASA study, JSC-1 was less toxic than quartz and about as toxic as TiO2 in human alveolar macrophages (Latch et al. 2007). This is cell data, not exposure data." }, { "label": "Dust and wear", "line": "Lunar dust is abrasive and electrostatic and clogs and scratches hardware, according to the 2023 abrasion paper." }, { "label": "Missing sheets", "line": "The JSC-1/1A safety data sheet that ARES points to was not read in this run. Read it before handling the powder." } ] }, { "title": "If the simulant is wrong", "lead": "A simulant is a recipe, not the Moon. The sources differ, so the test result depends on which simulant and which values are used.", "points": [ { "label": "Two sources for LHS-1 oxides", "line": "Exolith sheets and the Long-Fox 2023 paper give different oxide values for LHS-1 and LMS-1. Only the paper is recorded here." } ] } ] }, "updated": "2026-10-19", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 26, "unreachable": 3, "caveats": 5, "note": "Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-19. JSC-1A values come from a summarising fetch of the ARES page, which cites McKay 1994, Klosky 2000 and others; the original studies were not opened. LHS-1 and LMS-1 oxide and particle size values come from Long-Fox et al. 2023 Tables 2 and 3. Mineralogy comes from the CLASS pages. Unreachable: the JSC-1A bulk data PDF, the Exolith LHS-1 and LMS-1 spec sheet PDFs (compressed, unreadable), and the arXiv cohesion paper (binary). Deepened on 2026-10-19: added oxide recipe, mineralogy, supply, degradation, uses, hazards, handling, compare rows and four new sources (Latch 2007, Walton 2007, Black and Fritz 2023, Creager 2025). Property values were not changed." }, "sources": { "ares-jsc1a": { "title": "JSC-1 and JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant, NASA ARES Simulants project page", "id": "NASA Exploration Research and Simulation (ARES) simulants project", "url": "https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/simulants/jsc-1-1a.html", "kind": "web", "license": "NASA web page, public information; licence not stated on the page read" }, "long-fox-2023": { "title": "Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies", "id": "doi:10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535", "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2023.1255535/full", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "Open-access journal article (Frontiers in Space Technologies); licence not checked in this run" }, "class-lhs-1": { "title": "LHS-1 Lunar Highlands Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarhighlands/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" }, "class-lms-1": { "title": "LMS-1 Lunar Mare Simulant, CLASS Exolith Lab (University of Central Florida)", "url": "https://sciences.ucf.edu/class/simulant_lunarmare/", "kind": "web", "license": "University web page; licence not checked in this run" }, "latch-2007": { "title": "Toxicity of Lunar and Martian Dust Simulants to Alveolar Macrophages Isolated from Human Volunteers (Latch, Hamilton, Holian, Lam, James)", "id": "NASA NTRS 20070031950", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070031950/downloads/20070031950.pdf", "year": 2007, "kind": "paper", "license": "NASA NTRS public document; licence not stated in the copy read" }, "walton-2007": { "title": "Adhesion of Lunar Dust, NASA/CR-2007-214685 (Otis R. Walton, Grainflow Dynamics)", "id": "NASA/CR-2007-214685", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070020448/downloads/20070020448.pdf", "year": 2007, "kind": "report", "license": "NASA contractor report; licence not stated in the copy read" }, "black-fritz-2023": { "title": "Investigating Abrasion Effects of Lunar Simulant Grain Sizes on Candidate Spacesuit Fabric (Black and Fritz, NASA JSC)", "id": "NASA NTRS 20230000758", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230000758/downloads/Investigating%20Abrasion%20Effects%20of%20Lunar%20Simulant%20Grain%20Sizes%20on%20Candidate%20Spacesuit%20Fabric_JBlack_AFritz_Final2.pdf", "year": 2023, "kind": "paper", "license": "NASA NTRS public document; licence not stated in the copy read" }, "creager-2025": { "title": "Best Practices for the Testing of Planetary Roving Vehicle Mobility Systems and Tires (Creager, Breckenridge, Johnson, Oravec, Moreland, Sobey, McBryan)", "id": "NASA NTRS 20250003470", "url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20250003470/downloads/Mobility%20Test%20Best%20Practices%20-%20STRIVES%20July2025.pdf", "year": 2025, "kind": "report", "license": "NASA NTRS public document; licence not stated in the copy read" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/lunar-regolith-simulant/" }