Simulant Development Lab
Simulant Development Lab
The Simulant Development Lab (SDL) is a multifunction collaborative lab space that supports the analysis, curation, development, distribution, and testing of planetary simulants (Lunar and Martian) and granular materials. Simulants are geologically complex materials that are developed to represent the physical and/or compositional characteristics of a planetary surface (e.g., a naturally occurring soil or regolith).
Lunar Simulants are manufactured materials generated from geologic feedstock that exhibit physical and/or mineralogical properties akin to that of Lunar Regolith. All equipment and technologies that are anticipated to encounter Lunar Regolith (e.g., spacesuits, robotic and human mobility systems, thermal systems, electrical components, mining and excavation systems, ISRU systems, etc.) must be thoroughly tested in Lunar Simulants prior to deployment on the Moon.
The SDL provides a dynamic working space where science (characterization of physical simulant properties) and engineering (tools, gloves and suit materials, dust mitigation, robotic prototypes) experiments can be conducted using testbeds of simulants. The lab currently houses over 30 metric tons of planetary simulants and feedstock materials. Additionally, the SDL is furnished with a wide array of equipment and tools used to process simulants (including bulk simulant and feedstock materials such as rocks) along with a key selection of analytical instruments which are used to characterize these materials.
The Simulant Development Lab houses over 30 metric tons of planetary simulants and feedstock materials.
The following equipment is available for material processing:
- Gilson BO-350S 7ft³ Stainless Steel Interior Bench Oven: The Laboratory Bench Oven is used for controlled heating and drying applications (e.g., dry curing, dehydrating, preheating, thermal testing); 450°F Max (Analog Controller).
- Gilson LC-37 Bico Badger Jaw Crusher: The Badger Jaw Crusher reduces the size of rocks ≤ 4 x 6” (102 x 152mm) in diameter to a final size of 1/8 to 3/4" (3 to 19mm).
- Pavestone JAC12CE Rock Crusher: The Pavestone Rock Crusher reduces the size of rocks ≤ 1.5" (38.1mm) in diameter to a final size of 1/32 to 1/2" (0.8 to 12.7mm).
- Gilson LC-53 Bico Pulverizer: The Bico Pulverizer reduces the size of particles ≤ 0.24in (6mm) in diameter down to a minimum size of 75μm.
- Gilson LCA-91 Dust Enclosure Bench: The Dust Enclosure Bench is an accessory to the LC-53 Pico Pulverizer which operates a 500-700FPM (152 to 213m per minute) high-capacity blower that transfers dust to a collector drawer for containment.
- Gilson LC-91 1 Tier Jar Mill: The Gilson Jar Mills reduce the size of particles ≤ 0.04in (1mm) in diameter to a final size of 1 to 50μm.
- Gilson SS-15D Gilson 8in Sieve Shaker with Digital Timer: The SS-15D Gilson 8in Sieve Shaker is used for particle separations. The Sieve Shaker can accommodate 8in (203mm) sieves and ISO 200mm sieves. The model also features a digital countdown timer that can operate up to 99 minutes (±1 second).
- Gilson 8in Vibratory Sieve Shaker: A Vibratory Sieve Shake is used for the separation of granular materials. The Sieve Shaker accommodates 8in and 200mm test sieves.
- Readco Kurimoto RK Labmaster Mixer: The RK Labmaster Mixer facilitates dry powder blending and processing. The mixer accommodates slow speed tumbling (30 RPM) in addition to high-speed impeller action (5,800 FPM).
- Gilson Mechanical Soil Compactor: A Gilson Mechanical Soil Compactor is used to compact soils in an accurate and systematic manner to achieve desired soil properties (e.g., density).
Further, analytical instruments and equipment available for material characterization includes:
- Microtrac Sync Wet/Dry Multi Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (Range: 0.01 – 2,000 microns): The Sync particle size analyzer is used to characterize size distribution and particle shape of granular materials (e.g., simulated extraterrestrial dust and regolith).
- Keyence VHX-7000 Series Digital Microscope: The Keyence Digital Microscope is a fully automated 4k Ultra-High Accuracy Microscope with a fully integrated head which accommodates smooth magnification transitions from 20x up to 1000x.
- Bartington MS2B Dual Frequency Sensor + MS3 Meter (Magnetic Susceptibility): Magnetic Susceptibility measurements on soils, powders, or liquids, can be made with the coupled system of the MS3 meter and MS2B sensor.
- Gilson Standard Pneumatic Direct Shear Machine: The Gilson Standard Pneumatic Direct Shear Machine is used to evaluate the strength and stability of soils and provides direct or direct/residual shear values.
The analytical suite of the Simulant Development Lab shown with the Particle Size Analyzer (left) and Keyence Digital Microscope (right) in view.
The SDL is equipped with the tools and instrumentation needed to create small batches (i.e., 100s of grams worth) of new simulants in-house through NASA. The lab can provide an end-to-end process of simulant production, from crushing rocks into micron-sized particles, adding in the appropriate particle types (glass, agglutinates, volatiles, etc.), and sieving to match accurate particle size distributions of the simulant analog.
The SDL is also equipped with a shear vane, two cone penetrometers, a density drive tube, and a density sand cone for physical, geotechnical, and mechanical analysis of simulants. Additional support equipment includes vacuum-ready atmosphere-controlled gloveboxes, analytical balances, and a vibration table.
NASA's Role in Simulants
NASA's Role in Simulants
The SDL is managed by the Exploration Science Office within the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). The SDL supports NASA's Simulant Advisory Committee, consisting of members working with different programs and projects within several of NASA's Mission Directorates.
SDL lab personnel also serve on NASA's Simulant Advisory Committee, which provides a voice for NASA regarding simulants. Simulant guidance, inquiries, recommendations, and procurement are facilitated through this committee. For more information on planetary simulants, please contact the NASA POCs listed below.
| Personnel | Role | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Gruener | JSC Simulant POC/Committee Lead | 281-483-1842 | john.e.gruener@nasa.gov |
| Rostislav Kovtun | JSC Simulant POC | 281-244-5128 | rostislav.n.kovtun@nasa.gov |
| Hannah O'Brien | JSC Simulant POC | 281-244-6594 | hannah.c.obrien@nasa.gov |
| Jennifer Edmunson | MSFC Simulant POC | 256-544-0721 | jennifer.e.edmunson@nasa.gov |
| Doug Rickman | MSFC Simulant POC | 256-650-5422 | douglas.l.rickman@nasa.gov |
| Heather Oravec | GRC Simulant POC | 216-433-3432 | heather.a.oravec@nasa.gov |
| Laurent Sibille | KSC Simulant POC | 321-867-4422 | laurent.sibille-1@nasa.gov |
Subset of SDL's Planetary Simulants
Subset of SDL's Planetary Simulants
| Simulant | Representative Planetary Surface | Simulant Photo | Microscope Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP-1 | Lunar Mare |  |
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| CSM-LHT-1 | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| CSM-LHT-1 | Lunar Mare |  |
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| GreenSpar | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| JSC-1A | Lunar Mare |  |
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| LHS-1 | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| LMS-1 | Lunar Mare |  |
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| MLS-1 | Lunar Mare |  |
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| NU-LHT-2M | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| NU-LHT-4M | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| OB1A | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| OPRH2N-J1 | Lunar Highlands |  |
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| OPRL2N | Lunar Mare |  |
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| JPL MMS | Mars |  |
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| JSC MARS-1 | Mars |  |
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| JSC ROCKNEST | Mars |  |
 |
Please note that this list is provided for information purposes only and does not imply endorsement by NASA.
Safety and Health
Safety and Health
Simulant use and testing are subject to standard workplace controls to ensure that they are safe for users, observers, and facility occupants. NASA uses the NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls (Elimination; Substitution; Administrative; and Personnel Protective Equipment, PPE) to prevent exposure to hazardous components of simulant materials. Specific mineral components, such as Crystalline Silica, may be subject to OSHA substance specific standard requirements depending on the specific activity and exposure levels. Refer to simulant safety data sheets (SDSs), and ensure that appropriate chamber sealing, venting, and PPE use are implemented. Consult with your local Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene and Safety personnel for appropriate requirements and how to best handle simulants for your specific needs.
Lunar Simulant Resources
Lunar Simulant Resources
Returned samples (discrete rocks, drill cores, scoop samples) from the Apollo and Luna missions are the primary source for data on Lunar regolith (e.g., returned core samples provide information on the textural and structural complexities of Lunar regolith).
As such, Lunar simulants that are created to represent the Lunar regolith have unique characteristics (e.g., particle size distributions) and components (e.g., glass-bonded aggregates known as agglutinates) that mimic the physical, chemical, and/or mineralogical nature of regolith itself. Further, since Lunar simulant properties are derived from Lunar Regolith data, it is recommended that the interested reader explore Lunar science to gain a better understanding of what these simulants are in fact simulating.
A comprehensive review of Lunar science (exploration, returned samples, the Lunar environment, surface processes, mineralogy, rock types, regolith characteristics, chemistry, physical properties of the lunar surface, and global and region data) can be found in the Lunar sourcebook: A user's guide to the Moon (Heiken et al., 1991) and New Views of the Moon (Jolliff et al., 2018).
Detailed procedures on the handling, storing, and preparation of simulants for testing systems and hardware (including, but not limited to, procedures and best practices for testing simulant under vacuum, bake-outs, thermal testing, etc.) can be found in NASA-STD-1008 (Classifications and Requirements for Testing Systems and Hardware to Be Exposed to Dust in Planetary Environments).
The Lunar Regolith Simulant Materials: Recommendations for Standardization, Production, and Usage and Lunar Regolith Simulant User's Guide detail the background and history of Lunar simulants; present data on simulants that have been characterized (chemistry, mineralogy, particle size distribution, particle shape, bulk density, magnetic susceptibility, shear strength); and provide recommendations on the safe handling of simulant materials. The most recent version of each respective document can be found on NASA’s Technical Reports Server, NTRS, (https://ntrs.nasa.gov/).
Additional simulant descriptions and information can be found on the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Assessments and Databases Page; Center for Lunar & Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) Exolith Lab; Off Planet Research; and MSFC Simulant Archive. Note that external simulant databases are included for information purposes only and do not imply endorsement by NASA.
Lab Leads
Lab Leads
John Gruener
NASA
Ross Kovtun
Jacobs-JETS
Hannah O'Brien
Jacobs-JETS