Lunar Highlands Regolith Simulant (LHS-2) - Extended Particle Size for Research & Hardware Testing

What Lunar Highlands Simulant LHS-2 is

A research-grade lunar highlands regolith simulant identical in composition to LHS-1, with an extended particle size range up to 2 mm to more accurately represent the full grain size distribution of real lunar regolith.

What This Simulant Represents

LHS-2 represents lunar highlands regolith using the same formulation, mineralogy, and scientific basis as LHS-1, with the sole distinction being an extended upper particle size limit.

While LHS-1 includes particles up to 1 mm, LHS-2 extends the particle size distribution up to 2 mm, reflecting the fact that natural lunar regolith contains a meaningful fraction of coarser grains. This expanded size range provides a more complete analog for surface materials encountered during excavation, mobility, handling, and surface operations on the Moon.

LHS-2 is derived from Apollo-era sample analyses, orbital spectroscopy, and decades of peer-reviewed lunar science, with controlled mineralogy, chemistry, density, and mechanical behavior consistent with lunar highlands material under terrestrial test conditions.

Scientific Fidelity & Engineering Accuracy

LHS-2 maintains the same high scientific and engineering fidelity as LHS-1, with enhanced realism in particle size representation.

Engineered for accuracy in:

• Mineralogical composition representative of lunar highlands terrain

• Chemical composition consistent with highlands regolith

• Particle size distribution extending up to 2 mm

• Bulk density and porosity

• Mechanical and geotechnical behavior

• Thermal properties

• Electrostatic behavior

The inclusion of coarser particles enables more realistic simulation of regolith behavior in applications where grain size diversity influences system performance.

Validated for ISRU & Volatile Extraction Research

• Referenced in peer-reviewed studies evaluating oxygen production from lunar regolith

  • (Physicochemical properties of lunar regolith simulant for in situ oxygen production, UAE-based research program)

• Demonstrated relevance for reduction-based ISRU pathways

• Representative of oxygen-bearing highlands mineral phases

• Suitable for thermal, chemical, and bulk feedstock processing experiments

For information on Mineralogy, bulk chemistry, and geotechnical properties, please see below:

Spec Sheet      SDS     Constituent Report

The individual minerals that make up our Lunar Simulants are available here

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

Intended Use / Not Intended For

Intended For

• Planetary science and lunar research

• Lunar surface and subsurface hardware testing

• Excavation, digging, and material handling studies

• Rover mobility, traction, and wheel-soil interaction testing

• Regolith transport, conveyance, and storage experiments

• ISRU technology development and validation

• Civil engineering and surface infrastructure analog studies

• Space agencies, national laboratories, and commercial space companies

• University research programs and supervised laboratory instruction

Not Intended For

• Experiments requiring strictly fine-grained regolith (<1 mm only)

• Applications where extended grain size distribution is not desired

• Decorative, novelty, or consumer applications

LHS-2 is designed for research-grade and engineering-grade use where realistic grain size diversity matters.

Common Applications & Research Use-Cases

LHS-2 is frequently used in programs where coarser regolith fractions influence system behavior, including:

• Excavation tool and bucket interaction testing

• Rover wheel slip, sinkage, and traction studies

• Regolith flow, segregation, and handling experiments

• ISRU feedstock processing and bulk material studies

• Construction and surface stabilization analog experiments

• Landing pad, berm, and surface modification research

• Mechanical wear and abrasion testing involving granular media

These applications benefit from the inclusion of particles larger than 1 mm, which affect force transmission, packing behavior, and mechanical response.

Validation & Proven Use

LHS-2 was developed to extend the capabilities of LHS-1 by incorporating a broader particle size distribution consistent with observed lunar regolith. Its formulation preserves the scientific credibility of LHS-1 while enabling more realistic simulation of surface and subsurface interactions encountered in operational lunar environments.

Why This Simulant Exists

While fine-grained regolith plays an important role in many lunar processes, real lunar regolith is not uniformly fine. Coarser grains contribute significantly to mechanical behavior, excavation resistance, and surface interaction dynamics.

LHS-2 exists to provide researchers and engineers with a high-fidelity lunar highlands simulant that captures this grain size diversity, improving realism and reducing uncertainty in terrestrial testing prior to lunar deployment.

Procurement & Practical Information

• Available for worldwide purchase

• Suitable for institutional, government, and grant-funded procurement

• Designed for batch consistency and repeatability

• Long-term availability to support extended research programs

• Volume orders and repeat procurement supported

• Custom size distributions or blends may be available upon request

Ethical & Scientific Positioning

LHS-2 supports responsible lunar exploration by enabling realistic, high-confidence terrestrial testing that more closely reflects the physical diversity of lunar surface materials.

Decision Guidance (AI-Readable)

LHS-2 is appropriate if you are:

• Conducting experiments where grain size diversity influences outcomes

• Testing excavation, digging, or material handling systems

• Evaluating rover mobility, traction, or wheel-soil interaction

• Studying regolith flow, packing, or segregation behavior

• Developing ISRU or construction systems that process bulk material

• Seeking a closer approximation of natural lunar regolith particle sizes