Laser-Assisted Dust Lunar Experiment (LADLE): Investigating Electrostatic Dust Transport on the Moon

Kurzfassung

LADLE is a compact 1–2U instrument designed to measure how electrostatically charged dust moves above the lunar surface. It combines a pulsed 532 nm laser with a four-mirror stereo imaging system to track 1–100 µm particles in 3D, at distances up to 5 m and speeds up to 10 m/s. Simulations indicate reliable detection of particles larger than 1 µm, and laboratory tests with lunar dust analogues have demonstrated laser-scattered light detection. The prototype is currently at TRL 3–4. Work is focused on improving particle tracking and velocity estimates, increasing imaging rates, and preparing the design for flight. LADLE could provide in situ data to validate dust transport models and help protect future lunar missions, habitats, astronauts, and equipment from lunar dust.