Abstract DGP2026-29

Lunar dust levitation, first observed as “horizon glow” by Surveyor 6 near the terminator, remains one of the most persistent and poorly understood phenomena in lunar science. This electrostatically driven transport poses severe risks to future lunar missions - including Artemis and sustained lunar bases - by degrading optical sensors, interfering with astronomy, accelerating mechanical wear, and threatening astronaut health through inhalation and abrasion. To address this, the Laser-Assisted Dust Lunar Experiment (LADLE) has been proposed as a compact, space-ready instrument designed to make the first direct, quantitative measurements of micron-scale dust dynamics on the lunar surface.

LADLE is a 1-2U-compatible payload weighing about 810 g, consuming 10 W nominal (17 W peak), and integrating a 532 nm pulsed laser (100 µJ, 1 ns, >50 Hz) with a four-mirror stereo camera system. This configuration enables 3D tracking of dust particles (1–100 µm) at velocities up to 10 m/s within a 5 m range, with a field of view exceeding 5.6° and an f/# of ~5.6. The system leverages Mie scattering theory (n = 1.56–0.01j) to model signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), confirming reliable detection (SNR > 10) for particles >1 µm at 5 m distance. Simulations based on electrostatic dust fountain models predict that under fast solar wind conditions, particles can escape the Debye sheath, reaching altitudes of ~50 m and exit velocities >5 m/s - conditions LADLE is uniquely designed to observe.

A laboratory breadboard prototype has been successfully constructed using a diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser synchronized with a Thorlabs CMOS camera (3.45 µm pixel pitch, global shutter, 35–800 fps) and variable F/# optics. The four-mirror optical path enables stereo imaging from a single detector, eliminating the need for dual cameras and reducing mass and complexity. Tests employed lunar analogs: 10 µm silver-coated silica spheres and 30 µm copper spheres. Initial experiments successfully captured scattered laser light from these particles, validating the system’s optical alignment, triggering precision, and detection sensitivity.

Current efforts focus on refining particle tracking algorithms to improve size and velocity estimation accuracy, optimizing detection sensitivity for backscattered intensity, and integrating high-frame-rate imaging (≥100 fps) to resolve velocities up to 10 m/s. The system is being planned as a flight-ready 1–2U payload with a 20% mass margin and power efficiency optimized for lunar lander integration.

LADLE currently operates at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3–4 and represents a transformative step toward understanding electrostatic dust transport on the Moon. By providing the first in situ measurements of dust levitation dynamics, LADLE will directly inform the design of lunar habitats, protect sensitive instrumentation, and validate critical plasma-dust interaction models essential for planetary exploration. This instrument is aiming to unlock the secrets of lunar dust and ensure the safety and success of robotic and human exploration of the Moon.