NASA seeks solutions for static electricity risks on Moon missions

NASA is seeking solutions to mitigate risks associated with static electricity buildup on astronauts and equipment during upcoming lunar missions. The agency has launched the "Lunar Grounding Challenge" to address the issue.

The challenge offers a total prize of $150,000 for innovative concepts that prevent astronauts from becoming "walking capacitors" due to electrostatic discharge. Submissions are due by January 15.

Static electricity poses a significant risk, particularly in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, where astronaut suits can accumulate substantial negative charges. This is exacerbated when astronauts approach landers, which carry a slight positive charge. The buildup can lead to hazardous electrical arcs, potentially igniting fires in the lander's oxygen-rich environment or causing electric shocks.

NASA requires proposed solutions to be compact, lightweight, and low-power, capable of withstanding extreme lunar temperature fluctuations and supporting multiple moonwalks over a 10-day mission. The presence of lunar dust also increases the risk of electrical arcing, requiring designs that prevent discharges to spacesuits or landers.