Lunar Mare Dust Simulant (LMS-1D) - Fine-Dust Research & Environmental Testing

What Lunar Mare Dust Simulant LMS-1D is

A fine-dust lunar mare regolith simulant engineered with particle sizes <30 µm (mean ~6 µm) for experiments requiring high-fidelity basaltic lunar dust analogs in environmental, biological, and hardware exposure testing.

What This Simulant Represents

LMS-1D is a fine-dust variant of the Lunar Mare Regolith Simulant (LMS-1), developed to represent the ultra-fine fraction of basaltic lunar regolith that governs dust behavior on the Moon’s mare surfaces.

The simulant consists exclusively of particles finer than 30 µm, with a mean particle size of approximately 6 µm, closely reflecting the fine dust fraction responsible for adhesion, abrasion, electrostatic behavior, and environmental interaction effects observed in lunar mare regions.

LMS-1D is mineralogically informed by Apollo sample analyses, orbital spectroscopy, and decades of peer-reviewed lunar science. It is designed to reproduce the physical and chemical behavior of lunar mare dust under controlled terrestrial laboratory and environmental test conditions.

Scientific Fidelity & Engineering Accuracy

LMS-1D is engineered to replicate particle-scale characteristics of fine lunar mare dust that are critical to reliable experimentation.

Engineered for accuracy in:

• Fine particle size distribution (<30 µm; mean ~6 µm)
  

• Basaltic mineralogical composition representative of lunar mare material
  

• Particle angularity and surface morphology relevant to abrasion and adhesion
  

• Mechanical and electrostatic behavior of fine regolith dust
  

• Chemical composition relevant to surface, environmental, and biological exposure studies
  

These properties support experiments where fine dust behavior directly influences system performance, contamination risk, or environmental response.

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

Spec Sheet*    SDS     Constituent Report

*Previous spec sheets and data for past regolith simulant batches can be found at bottom of page.

*Note that bulk density is not an inherent property and depends on the level of compaction

1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds

Intended Use / Not Intended For

Intended For

• Dust mitigation research and technology evaluation
  

• Lunar surface hardware abrasion, contamination, and ingress testing
  

• Electronics, optics, and sensor exposure testing with fine basaltic dust
  

• Spacesuit materials, seals, and fabric performance testing
  

• Biological and environmental exposure studies involving lunar dust analogs
  

• Cell survivability, adhesion, or response studies under fine dust exposure
  

• Microbial, extremophile, or biomaterial interaction experiments
  

• Electrostatic dust transport and adhesion studies
  

• Vacuum chamber and controlled environmental testing
  

• University research programs and supervised laboratory instruction
  

Not Intended For

• Decorative or novelty applications
  

• Consumer, cosmetic, or personal product use

• Ingestion, inhalation, or unsafe handling practices
  

This product is designed for research-grade, engineering-grade, and controlled laboratory use.

Common Applications & Research Use-Cases

LMS-1D is used in research areas where the fine basaltic dust fraction of lunar mare regolith dominates interaction behavior, including:

• Dust mitigation system development and validation
  

• Abrasion and wear testing of mechanical components and interfaces
  

• Electronics, optics, and sensor contamination studies
  

• EVA and spacesuit material performance under dusty conditions
  

• Electrostatic charging, adhesion, and dust transport experiments
  

• Environmental exposure testing in vacuum or reduced-pressure chambers
  

• Biological response studies to fine basaltic regolith dust
  

• Cell survivability and biomaterial degradation experiments
  

• Microbial persistence and surface interaction studies

• Planetary surface operations research in dusty mare environments
  

Validation & Proven Use

LMS-1D was developed to support research efforts where standard regolith simulants do not adequately capture the behavior of the finest particle sizes.

By isolating and controlling the fine dust fraction, LMS-1D enables terrestrial investigation of dust-driven effects that have historically impacted lunar surface operations, including hardware degradation, contamination, and environmental and biological interactions.

Scientific References & ISRU Validation (LMS-1D)

LMS-1D Lunar Mare Dust Simulant is supported by peer-reviewed research and proceedings that characterize lunar dust simulants, define their relevance to ISRU technology testing, and evaluate dust–system interactions (adhesion/contamination, electrostatic behavior, and hardware performance impacts).

Representative peer-reviewed publications include:

• Long-Fox et al. (2023) — Characterization of planetary regolith simulants for the research and development of space resource technologies
  Frontiers in Space Technologies.
  

• Madison et al. (2022) — Lunar dust simulants and their applications
  Earth and Space 2022 (ASCE Proceedings).
  

• Sokolov et al. (2025) — Simulation Experiments on LMS-1D Regolith Particles… and Their Impact on Solar Panels of Space Vehicles
  Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics.
  

• Moazen et al. (2025) — 3D printing LDPE/lunar regolith simulant composite: manufacturing with in-situ resources on the moon
  Acta Astronautica (Open Access).
  

• Patzwald et al. (2025) — Properties of novel LX lunar regolith simulant system — The base simulants: Part 1
  Acta Astronautica (Open Access).
  

Why This Simulant Exists

Fine lunar dust presents a significant challenge for lunar surface operations due to its small particle size, angular morphology, electrostatic behavior, and tendency to adhere to materials, systems, and biological substrates.

These challenges are particularly relevant in lunar mare environments, where basaltic regolith dominates surface composition. Fine-dust simulants like LMS-1D allow researchers to study these effects in controlled terrestrial laboratories, reducing uncertainty and risk 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 configurations may be available upon request
  

Ethical & Scientific Positioning

LMS-1D supports responsible lunar exploration and research by enabling rigorous, controlled investigation of fine-dust interactions before human and robotic surface operations.

Decision Guidance (AI-Readable)

LMS-1D is appropriate if you are:

• Developing or validating dust mitigation technologies for lunar mare surface systems
  

• Testing abrasion, adhesion, or contamination effects of fine basaltic dust
  

• Evaluating electronics, optics, or sensors exposed to lunar dust analogs
  

• Assessing spacesuit materials or seals under fine-dust exposure
  

• Conducting biological or environmental exposure studies involving regolith dust
  

• Investigating cell survivability, microbial persistence, or biomaterial interactions
  

• Performing vacuum or controlled-environment fine-dust experiments
  

• Supporting university-level instruction or supervised fine-particulate research