Moon dust may be answer to energy question on lunar surface

• Researchers say lunar regolith, otherwise known as material from the moon’s surface, could create an energy source on the lunar surface, leading to potential human colonization. The discovery comes after scientists successfully created “moonglass” with a similar material to regolith.
• Scientists say the discovery could lead to cost savings and decrease payloads for spacecraft.
• Researchers also note that lunar solar panels have advantages over traditional solar panels, like retaining efficiency.

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Moon dust may sound like the stuff of dreams, but it’s real, and now scientists said it is opening up a new world of possibilities for space exploration.

Material from the moon, or “lunar regolith,” can potentially be transformed into solar cells, helping create a future in which humans inhabit the moon.

Researchers said the material on the lunar surface could be used to develop a unique solar panel.

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How did scientists make this discovery?

To test this theory, researchers used material similar to lunar regolith, focused sunlight on it to melt it down, combined it with crystalline material commonly used in solar cells to absorb sunlight and successfully produced an electrical current. The exact process of the experiment can be found in a study published in the journal Device on Thursday, April 3.

What is moonglass?

Scientists said moonglass has advantages over traditional glass. For instance, a natural brown tint to the lunar glass helps prevent a reduction in energy absorption over time. It is also resistant to cosmic radiation found in space. Scientists also note that it would lessen the need for Earth-made glass, which increases launch costs due to heavy payloads.

However, there are disadvantages as well. For example, traditional solar cells are more efficient than current moonglass solar cells. Scientists say they can fix this issue by removing impurities from moon dust.

There are also many unanswered questions, including lunar glass’s lifespan and solar cells’ stability on the moon.

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How can they find out more?

Scientists are pushing for a mission to the moon to conduct experiments with solar energy to test their theories. If successful, this mission may be the key to powering lunar bases and creating long-term settlements on the moon for humans.