Lunar regolith simulants (JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1) JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1
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.
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.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Bulk density
1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3 (JSC-1A)
Particle size
10 to 1000 µm (JSC-1A)
Chemistry
SiO2 47.71 wt% (JSC-1A)
Recipe, share of the weight
- SiO2 47.71%Silicon dioxide
- TiO2 1.59%Titanium dioxide
- Al2O3 15.02%Aluminium oxide
- Cr2O3 0.04%Chromium(III) oxide
- FeO 7.35%Iron oxide (FeO, total iron)
- MnO 0.18%Manganese oxide
- MgO 9.01%Magnesium oxide
- CaO 10.42%Calcium oxide
- Na2O 2.7%Sodium oxide
- K2O 0.82%Potassium oxide
- P2O5 0.66%Phosphorus pentoxide
- LOI 0.71%Loss on ignition
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
Risk at a glance
- People No data. No hazard data recorded
- If it fails No data. No failure risks recorded
- Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded
Quick facts: JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.9 to 2.91 g/cm3 (unitless specific gravity) | 2 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Lunar regolith simulants?
Lunar regolith simulants has a density of 2.9 to 2.91 g/cm3 (unitless specific gravity). The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Lunar regolith simulants used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Soil bins and test beds for rovers and surface vehicles; Extreme Terrain Endurance Rig (XTERra) tire tests; Excavation and loose-soil geotechnical tests.
Why it exists
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.
Where it's used
Rover and tire testing
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.
Excavation and drilling
ARES recommends JSC-1/1A for excavation and loose geotechnical tests, and for drilling with reservations.
Oxygen production
ARES recommends JSC-1/1A for oxygen production with reservations, because of its high FeO and Ti-magnetite.
Spacesuit fabric
The 2023 abrasion test used LHS-1D and OB-1A, not the three simulants in this profile.
Recipe
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.
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).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon dioxide SiO2 | 47.71% | Main network former; most of each simulant. |
| Titanium dioxide TiO2 | 1.59% | Minor oxide; higher in the mare simulant LMS-1. |
| Aluminium oxide Al2O3 | 15.02% | Highest in LHS-1, which is anorthosite-rich. |
| Chromium(III) oxide Cr2O3 | 0.04% | Trace. JSC-1A only; not in the Long-Fox LHS-1 or LMS-1 tables. |
| Iron oxide (FeO, total iron) FeO | 7.35% | Iron. JSC-1A also has Fe2O3 at 3.44 wt%. LHS-1 and LMS-1 report cumulative iron as FeO. |
| Manganese oxide MnO | 0.18% | Trace. |
| Magnesium oxide MgO | 9.01% | Mafic oxide; highest in LMS-1. |
| Calcium oxide CaO | 10.42% | Feldspar and pyroxene oxide. |
| Sodium oxide Na2O | 2.7% | Feldspar oxide. |
| Potassium oxide K2O | 0.82% | Minor alkali. |
| Phosphorus pentoxide P2O5 | 0.66% | Minor; JSC-1A contains natural phosphates per the ARES page. |
| Loss on ignition LOI | 0.71% | Volatile loss on ignition as printed. Not an oxide. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Bulk density
1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3 (JSC-1A)
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.
Particle size
10 to 1000 µm (JSC-1A)
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.
Chemistry
SiO2 47.71 wt% (JSC-1A)
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.
How it compares
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.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details.
| Measurement | JSC-1A, LHS-1, LMS-1 |
|---|---|
| Physical and electrical | |
| Bulk density, JSC-1A (McKay et al., 1994, as cited on the ARES page) | 1.5 to 1.7 g/cm³1 |
| Bulk density, JSC-1A (Klosky et al., 2000, as cited on the ARES page) | 1.57 to 1.64 g/cm³2 |
| Other measurements | |
| Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Alshibli and Hasan, 2009, as cited on the ARES page) | 2.9 g/cm³ (unitless specific gravity)3 |
| Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Willman et al., 1995, as cited on the ARES page) | 2.91 g/cm³ (unitless specific gravity)4 |
| Particle size range, JSC-1ARange printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | 10 to 1000 µm |
| SiO2, JSC-1A | 47.71 wt%5 |
| TiO2, JSC-1A | 1.59 wt%6 |
| Al2O3, JSC-1A | 15.02 wt%7 |
| FeO, JSC-1A | 7.35 wt%8 |
| MgO, JSC-1A | 9.01 wt%9 |
| CaO, JSC-1A | 10.42 wt%10 |
| SiO2, LHS-1 | 49.12 wt%11 |
| Al2O3, LHS-1Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | 26.29 wt% |
| FeO, LHS-1Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | 3.2 wt% |
| Median particle size (D50), LHS-1 | 59.79 µm12 |
| Particle size span (D10 to D90), LHS-1 | 7.61 to 202.3 µm13 |
| Anorthosite, LHS-1 mineralogy | 74.4 wt%14 |
| Glass-rich basalt, LHS-1 mineralogy | 24.7 wt%15 |
| SiO2, LMS-1Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | 48.22 wt% |
| Al2O3, LMS-1Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | 12.4 wt% |
| FeO, LMS-1Bulk chemistry in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | 8.79 wt% |
| Median particle size (D50), LMS-1 | 72.27 µm16 |
| Particle size span (D10 to D90), LMS-1 | 5.82 to 282.5 µm17 |
| Pyroxene, LMS-1 mineralogy | 32.8 wt%18 |
| Glass-rich basalt, LMS-1 mineralogy | 32 wt%19 |
| Anorthosite, LMS-1 mineralogy | 19.8 wt%20 |
Why choose it, and why not
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 for
- 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.
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.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bulk density, JSC-1A (McKay et al., 1994, as cited on the ARES page) | Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing McKay et al. 1994 | material JSC-1A lunar regolith simulanttemperature not stated on the pagestate bulk, not stated on the page which compaction or moisture | — |
| 2 | Bulk density, JSC-1A (Klosky et al., 2000, as cited on the ARES page) | Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing Klosky et al. 2000 | material JSC-1A lunar regolith simulanttemperature not stated on the pagestate bulk, not stated on the page which compaction or moisture | — |
| 3 | Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Alshibli and Hasan, 2009, as cited on the ARES page) | 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 | material JSC-1A lunar regolith simulanttemperature not stated on the page | — |
| 4 | Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Willman et al., 1995, as cited on the ARES page) | Value printed on a NASA ARES simulant page, citing Willman et al. 1995 | material JSC-1A lunar regolith simulanttemperature not stated on the page | — |
| 5 | SiO2, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | material JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)basis bulk oxide analysis as printed | — |
| 6 | TiO2, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | material JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)basis bulk oxide analysis as printed | — |
| 7 | Al2O3, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | material JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)basis bulk oxide analysis as printed | — |
| 8 | FeO, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | 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 | — |
| 9 | MgO, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | material JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)basis bulk oxide analysis as printed | — |
| 10 | CaO, JSC-1A | Bulk chemistry printed on a NASA ARES simulant page | material JSC-1A, column JSC-1/1A (McKay et al. 1994; Sibille et al. 2006)basis bulk oxide analysis as printed | — |
| 11 | SiO2, LHS-1 | Bulk chemistry in a peer-reviewed-style open-access paper by Long-Fox et al. 2023 | material LHS-1 lunar highlands simulantbasis bulk oxide, fused bead XRF with LOI listed separately in the same table | — |
| 12 | Median particle size (D50), LHS-1 | Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | material LHS-1 lunar highlands simulantmethod basis particle size distribution as printed in the paper | — |
| 13 | Particle size span (D10 to D90), LHS-1 | Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | material LHS-1 lunar highlands simulantmethod basis particle size distribution as printed in the paper | — |
| 14 | Anorthosite, LHS-1 mineralogy | Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LHS-1 page | material LHS-1 lunar highlands simulantbasis mineral and lithology mix as printed | — |
| 15 | Glass-rich basalt, LHS-1 mineralogy | Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LHS-1 page | material LHS-1 lunar highlands simulantbasis mineral and lithology mix as printed | — |
| 16 | Median particle size (D50), LMS-1 | Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | material LMS-1 lunar mare simulantmethod basis particle size distribution as printed in the paper | — |
| 17 | Particle size span (D10 to D90), LMS-1 | Particle size distribution in Long-Fox et al. 2023 | material LMS-1 lunar mare simulantmethod basis particle size distribution as printed in the paper | — |
| 18 | Pyroxene, LMS-1 mineralogy | Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page | material LMS-1 lunar mare simulantbasis mineral and lithology mix as printed | — |
| 19 | Glass-rich basalt, LMS-1 mineralogy | Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page | material LMS-1 lunar mare simulantbasis mineral and lithology mix as printed | — |
| 20 | Anorthosite, LMS-1 mineralogy | Mineralogy table on the CLASS Exolith Lab LMS-1 page | material LMS-1 lunar mare simulantbasis mineral and lithology mix as printed | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Dust handling and dry air (electrostatic and surface forces) | not rated | Fine dust sticks to surfaces. Electrostatic forces move it and surface forces hold it.1 |
| Repeated contact with fabric and hardware | not rated | Lunar dust is extremely abrasive. The 2023 abrasion test used LHS-1D and OB-1A, not the simulants in this profile.2 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dust handling and dry air (electrostatic and surface forces) | 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. | basis general lunar dust, from a 2007 NASA review; not a test on JSC-1A, LHS-1 or LMS-1 |
| 2 | Repeated contact with fabric and hardware | 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. | basis Orthofabric with LHS-1D and OB-1A grain sizes; the abrasion data are not for JSC-1A, LHS-1 or LMS-1 |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For testers
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.
- Lungs (cell data)
- 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.
- Dust and wear
- Lunar dust is abrasive and electrostatic and clogs and scratches hardware, according to the 2023 abrasion paper.
- Missing sheets
- The JSC-1/1A safety data sheet that ARES points to was not read in this run. Read it before handling the powder.
If the simulant is wrong
A simulant is a recipe, not the Moon. The sources differ, so the test result depends on which simulant and which values are used.
- Two sources for LHS-1 oxides
- Exolith sheets and the Long-Fox 2023 paper give different oxide values for LHS-1 and LMS-1. Only the paper is recorded here.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Lunar dust clogged mechanisms, scratched optical covers and lenses, overheated r | 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. |
| Dust is held to surfaces by van der Waals and static image forces, so it accumul | 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. |
Handling and storage
- Record the simulant name, lot and supplier with every test, because the same name can mean different values across revisions.
- Expect dust to lift and cling when wheels, boots or blast disturb the surface, and plan dust control for test beds.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
JSC-1/1A simulant feedstock
Not read in this run. The ARES page gives no tonnage or producer share.
LHS-1 and LMS-1 constituents
Not read in this run. No producer share or tonnage is printed.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
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.
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.
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
- 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
- benchmark: specific_gravity
label: Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Alshibli and Hasan, 2009, as cited on the ARES page)
value: 2.9
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
- benchmark: specific_gravity
label: Specific gravity, JSC-1A (Willman et al., 1995, as cited on the ARES page)
value: 2.91
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
- 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)
- benchmark: sio2
label: SiO2, JSC-1A
value: 47.71
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
- benchmark: tio2
label: TiO2, JSC-1A
value: 1.59
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
- benchmark: al2o3
label: Al2O3, JSC-1A
value: 15.02
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
- benchmark: feo
label: FeO, JSC-1A
value: 7.35
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
- benchmark: mgo
label: MgO, JSC-1A
value: 9.01
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
- benchmark: cao
label: CaO, JSC-1A
value: 10.42
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
- benchmark: sio2
label: SiO2, LHS-1
value: 49.12
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
- benchmark: al2o3
label: Al2O3, LHS-1
value: 26.29
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
- benchmark: feo
label: FeO, LHS-1
value: 3.2
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
- benchmark: median_particle_size_d50
label: Median particle size (D50), LHS-1
value: 59.79
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
- 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
- benchmark: anorthosite
label: Anorthosite, LHS-1 mineralogy
value: 74.4
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
- benchmark: glass_rich_basalt
label: Glass-rich basalt, LHS-1 mineralogy
value: 24.7
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
- benchmark: sio2
label: SiO2, LMS-1
value: 48.22
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
- benchmark: al2o3
label: Al2O3, LMS-1
value: 12.4
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
- benchmark: feo
label: FeO, LMS-1
value: 8.79
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
- benchmark: median_particle_size_d50
label: Median particle size (D50), LMS-1
value: 72.27
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
- 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
- benchmark: pyroxene
label: Pyroxene, LMS-1 mineralogy
value: 32.8
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
- benchmark: glass_rich_basalt
label: Glass-rich basalt, LMS-1 mineralogy
value: 32
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
- benchmark: anorthosite
label: Anorthosite, LMS-1 mineralogy
value: 19.8
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
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:
- source: black-fritz-2023
where: Introduction
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: walton-2007
where: Adhesion sections
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.
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: []
origin: JSC-1/1A Source Material is basaltic ash mined at Flagstaff, Arizona (ARES). The ARES page says JSC-1/1A is crushed from that material and has no additives. Outward Technologies makes JSC-1/1A-derived agglutinates.
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: []
origin: Exolith Lab buys high-purity commercially available rocks and minerals in bulk, including Merriam crater basalt and Greenspar anorthosite, and aims to keep sources consistent. Changes in source can change composition and grain density (Long-Fox et al. 2023, section 2.1.2).
status: UCF has ceased production of LHS-1 and LMS-1. Space Resource Technologies, a spin-off company, now offers the simulant (CLASS Exolith Lab pages).
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.'
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
kind: paper
year: 2007
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
kind: report
year: 2007
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
kind: paper
year: 2023
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
kind: report
year: 2025
license: NASA NTRS public document; licence not stated in the copy read
license: CC-BY-4.0
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.'
story:
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.
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.
can_do:
- label: Bulk density
value: 1.5 to 1.7 g/cm3 (JSC-1A)
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.
- label: Particle size
value: 10 to 1000 µm (JSC-1A)
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.
- label: Chemistry
value: SiO2 47.71 wt% (JSC-1A)
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.
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.
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.'
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).
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
share_percent: 47.71
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 47.71
LHS-1: 49.12
LMS-1: 48.22
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)'
role: Main network former; most of each simulant.
- name: Titanium dioxide
symbol: TiO2
share_percent: 1.59
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 1.59
LHS-1: 0.63
LMS-1: 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)'
role: Minor oxide; higher in the mare simulant LMS-1.
- name: Aluminium oxide
symbol: Al2O3
share_percent: 15.02
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 15.02
LHS-1: 26.29
LMS-1: 12.4
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)'
role: Highest in LHS-1, which is anorthosite-rich.
- name: Chromium(III) oxide
symbol: Cr2O3
share_percent: 0.04
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 0.04
LHS-1: null
LMS-1: null
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)'
role: Trace. JSC-1A only; not in the Long-Fox LHS-1 or LMS-1 tables.
- name: Iron oxide (FeO, total iron)
symbol: FeO
share_percent: 7.35
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 7.35
LHS-1: 3.2
LMS-1: 8.79
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)'
role: Iron. JSC-1A also has Fe2O3 at 3.44 wt%. LHS-1 and LMS-1 report cumulative iron as FeO.
- name: Manganese oxide
symbol: MnO
share_percent: 0.18
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 0.18
LHS-1: 0.06
LMS-1: 0.2
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)'
role: Trace.
- name: Magnesium oxide
symbol: MgO
share_percent: 9.01
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 9.01
LHS-1: 2.86
LMS-1: 15.97
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)'
role: Mafic oxide; highest in LMS-1.
- name: Calcium oxide
symbol: CaO
share_percent: 10.42
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 10.42
LHS-1: 13.52
LMS-1: 7.65
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)'
role: Feldspar and pyroxene oxide.
- name: Sodium oxide
symbol: Na2O
share_percent: 2.7
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 2.7
LHS-1: 2.55
LMS-1: 1.73
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)'
role: Feldspar oxide.
- name: Potassium oxide
symbol: K2O
share_percent: 0.82
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 0.82
LHS-1: 0.34
LMS-1: 0.42
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)'
role: Minor alkali.
- name: Phosphorus pentoxide
symbol: P2O5
share_percent: 0.66
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 0.66
LHS-1: 0.17
LMS-1: 0.23
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)'
role: Minor; JSC-1A contains natural phosphates per the ARES page.
- name: Loss on ignition
symbol: LOI
share_percent: 0.71
by_simulant:
JSC-1A: 0.71
LHS-1: 0.41
LMS-1: 0.56
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)'
role: Volatile loss on ignition as printed. Not an oxide.
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.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
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
composition:
basis: wt% as printed; oxides from bulk fused bead XRF (LHS-1, LMS-1) and the ARES JSC-1/1A column (JSC-1A); mineral abundances as printed
source: ares-jsc1a
where: ARES Major Element Chemistry and Modal Mineralogy tables; Long-Fox 2023 Table 2; CLASS Exolith Lab mineralogy tables
totals:
JSC-1A: 99.65
LHS-1: 99.15
LMS-1: 98.87
note: JSC-1A also has Fe2O3 at 3.44 wt% (ARES column JSC-1/1A); LHS-1 and LMS-1 report total iron as FeO.
oxides:
- oxide: SiO2
JSC_1A: 47.71
LHS_1: 49.12
LMS_1: 48.22
- oxide: TiO2
JSC_1A: 1.59
LHS_1: 0.63
LMS_1: 2.7
- oxide: Al2O3
JSC_1A: 15.02
LHS_1: 26.29
LMS_1: 12.4
- oxide: Cr2O3
JSC_1A: 0.04
LHS_1: null
LMS_1: null
- oxide: FeO
JSC_1A: 7.35
LHS_1: 3.2
LMS_1: 8.79
- oxide: MnO
JSC_1A: 0.18
LHS_1: 0.06
LMS_1: 0.2
- oxide: MgO
JSC_1A: 9.01
LHS_1: 2.86
LMS_1: 15.97
- oxide: CaO
JSC_1A: 10.42
LHS_1: 13.52
LMS_1: 7.65
- oxide: Na2O
JSC_1A: 2.7
LHS_1: 2.55
LMS_1: 1.73
- oxide: K2O
JSC_1A: 0.82
LHS_1: 0.34
LMS_1: 0.42
- oxide: P2O5
JSC_1A: 0.66
LHS_1: 0.17
LMS_1: 0.23
- oxide: LOI
JSC_1A: 0.71
LHS_1: 0.41
LMS_1: 0.56
mineralogy:
- simulant: JSC-1A
basis: Modal mineralogy, ARES page; cited to Taylor et al. 2005 (ref 12). The page does not say which Apollo soil it matches.
source: ares-jsc1a
where: Modal Mineralogy table, Mineral Abundance (%) column. Apatite, clinopyroxene and ilmenite are printed as trace and are left out.
components:
- name: Glass
share_percent: 49.3
- name: Plagioclase
share_percent: 37.1
- name: Olivine
share_percent: 9
- name: K-silicate
share_percent: 1.4
- name: Cr-spinel
share_percent: 1.1
- name: Sulfide
share_percent: 1
- name: Ti-magnetite
share_percent: 0.4
- name: Albite
share_percent: 0.3
- name: Quartz
share_percent: 0.2
- name: Chlorite
share_percent: 0.1
- simulant: LHS-1
basis: Mineral and lithology mix as printed on the CLASS Exolith Lab page
source: class-lhs-1
where: Mineralogy table
components:
- name: Anorthosite
share_percent: 74.4
- name: Glass-rich basalt
share_percent: 24.7
- name: Ilmenite
share_percent: 0.4
- name: Pyroxene
share_percent: 0.3
- name: Olivine
share_percent: 0.2
- simulant: LMS-1
basis: Mineral and lithology mix as printed on the CLASS Exolith Lab page
source: class-lms-1
where: Mineralogy table
components:
- name: Pyroxene
share_percent: 32.8
- name: Glass-rich basalt
share_percent: 32
- name: Anorthosite
share_percent: 19.8
- name: Olivine
share_percent: 11.1
- name: Ilmenite
share_percent: 4.3
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.