Flexible Force Fields Can Protect Our Return to the Moon

New electrodynamic dust shields could shield lunar habitats and equipment from the Moon's pervasive dust.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Lunar dust remains one of the biggest challenges for long-term human presence on the Moon. Its jagged, clingy nature makes it naturally stick to everything from solar panels to the inside of human lungs. Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed two types of flexible Electrodynamic Dust Shields (EDSs) that could help protect lunar infrastructure from this problematic dust - a copper-based system and one made from Chemically Modified reduced Graphene Oxide (CMrGO). The team tested these curved EDSs in a simulated lunar environment and found they were highly effective at repelling dust, with the copper-based system removing over 90% of settled dust and both keeping nearly all dust away in dynamic conditions.

Why it matters

Lunar dust poses a major threat to the success of future long-term lunar missions and habitats. Developing effective dust mitigation solutions like these flexible EDSs is crucial to enabling a sustainable human presence on the Moon. These systems could protect vital equipment and infrastructure from dust accumulation, which can degrade solar panels, clog mechanisms, and even pose health risks to astronauts.

The details

The two EDS designs tested by the Georgia Tech team differ in their materials. The copper-based system uses cost-effective and easily manufacturable copper, but its weakness is that the electrodes can crack after repeated bending. The CMrGO-based system uses a novel nanocomposite material designed to withstand both static and cyclical straining, which is important given the extreme temperature swings on the lunar surface. In testing, the copper-based EDS removed over 90% of settled dust, while the CMrGO system was slightly less effective at 60% dust removal. However, both were highly successful at preventing dynamic dust buildup, keeping nearly all dust away.

  • The research was published in February 2026 in the journal Acta Astronautica.

The players

Francesco Pacelli

Researcher at Georgia Tech and co-author of the study.

Alvaro Romero-Calvo

Researcher at Georgia Tech and co-author of the study.

The Exolith Lab

Provided the lunar simulant materials used in the team's testing.

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What’s next

While these flexible EDS systems have not yet been adopted for any near-term lunar missions, with plenty of planned missions by both the U.S. and China in the coming years, it may only be a matter of time before we see these types of dust-shielding technologies deployed on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

Developing effective dust mitigation solutions is crucial for enabling a sustainable human presence on the Moon. These flexible EDS systems represent an important step forward in protecting vital lunar infrastructure and equipment from the pervasive and problematic lunar dust.