Properties of Lunar Soil Simulant Manufactured in Japan

Abstract

Three types of lunar soil simulant were experimentally produced from volcanic rocks mined in Japan in order to provide useful environments for various function tests. First, a basic simulant was made from lava basalt, and later, advanced simulants were produced by blending crushed ilmenite and/or olivine with the basic simulant. Fundamental properties of the simulants including chemical composition, density, particle size distribution, and shear strength were measured and compared with those of actual lunar soil and other lunar soil simulants. In addition to these tests, thermal and electrostatic properties of the basic simulant were evaluated. On the basis of the test results, it was concluded that the major chemical composition and physical properties of lunar soil could be simulated to some extent by blending several terrestrial minerals.