HYPER-Borea Dusting System

Lunar dust is a detriment to astronaut health and causes adverse mechanical and electrical effects. Mitigation technology that is effective and non-abrasive is lacking. Liquid cryogens are a viable solution that effectively mitigate lunar dust without high abrasion and without the risks and caveats other proposed technologies have.

The HYPER-Borea Team is investigating how numerous variables impact the efficiency and efficacy of Leidenfrost dusting. Scale model build and testing is completed. Data and results can be found at the NASA BIG Idea Challenge page. The concept won The Artemis Award and the associated publication won Best Technical Paper at the NASA BIG Idea Forum.

To learn more about the initial concept, read our blog post.

2020 – Present: Ian Wells and Leidenfrost Dusting

About the Project:

Ian is the Project Manager and Undergraduate Research Assistant in charge of HYPER-Borea. Ian’s main interest with HYPER-Borea is in the investigation of solutions to a problem plaguing space travel and inhibiting exploration of the Moon. He hopes to work at NASA one day.

Ian is a Boise, Idaho native who joined the HYPER lab in 2019. He designed a new logo for the lab and engineered a Schlieren Imaging System for DSLR cameras to view fluid flow via density gradients. He hopes to one day apply his research to assist in humanity’s return to the Moon and exploration beyond.

For more information on Ian Wells, follow this link here.