The Russian device PmL-Ch7 on the Chinese Chang'e-7 spacecraft will help test the movement patterns of lunar dust

MOSCOW, September 11 - RIA Novosti. The Russian device for dust monitoring of the Moon PmL-Ch7 on the Chinese Chang'e-7 apparatus will help test mathematical models of the movement of lunar dust in order to protect equipment and humans in future missions, Dmitry Zarubin, leading engineer, coordinator of international projects at the Space Research Institute (SRI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told RIA Novosti.

“To reduce the risks of future lunar missions, it is important to test the existing mathematical models for the “dust exosphere” through full-scale experiments on the Moon. The PmL-Ch7 device was created for this. That is, we will be able to look at the concentration of particles, their charge, speed and mass,” Zarubin said.

He clarified that the device will be able to check not only the natural movement of dust, but also “perturbed” under the influence of space technology. The movement of dust, according to Zarubin, can be affected by the covers or antennas of the station itself, as well as lunar rovers, devices for drilling regolith and various manipulators of other devices.

Zarubin called lunar dust one of the main dangers both for large-scale exploration of the Moon by automatic devices, and for its exploration by humans due to its toxic effect on the body. He said that on the Moon, dust particles levitate and rotate over the illuminated part of the surface, and certain potentially dangerous processes occur on the terminator line, which separates day and night.

“As you know, the launch of Chang’e-7 was postponed to 2027. The device is part of the device, we are working on further preparation of the device, on the scientific program, and together with our Chinese colleagues we are really looking forward to the launch and successful completion of the mission,” Zarubin said.