Fostering future missions and curation: fine-particle simulant characterization for a lunar highland
testbed (ESA, European Astronaut Centre - EAC)
Aliz Zemeny1 and Kamini Manick1
1

European Space Agency (ESA), Vulcan Analogue Sample Facility, European Centre for Space Applications andTelecommunication (ECSAT), Fermi Avenue, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

In the framework of the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), the UK site of the European
Space Agency (ESA), the Vulcan Analogue Sample Facility is actively engaged in the establishment of a robust Europeannetwork devoted to the acquisition, production, and management of extraterrestrial analogue samples (or simulants), both
existing and prospective. The Vulcan Facility is primarily oriented towards advancing scientific inquiries into planetaryanalogues, encompassing celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars. This pursuit is facilitated through the deployment ofbenchtop instrumentation for fundamental property analyses, and support for the curation of extraterrestrial materials and thedevelopment of associated technologies. European simulant priorities were determined following a user survey and simulantsupplier workshop in 2022 (Table 1).
As part of supporting the European simulants network, Vulcan's role encompasses choosing the optimal fine-particle highland
feedstock option for the ‘Dust Chamber’ [1] of the Luna Analogue Sample Facility in Cologne, Germany (EAC, ESA). The
selection process entails a comprehensive exploration of the European network of simulant providers and both commercial andacademic laboratories, entailing an exhaustive evaluation of the availability and logistical aspects of materials accessible in themarket. This consideration encompasses critical factors such as loading times and associated costs. Furthermore, a rigorous
assessment of simulant properties is conducted, including but not limited to particle size distribution, shape, and abrasivity. Theseparameters hold significant importance in the context of primary geotechnical and geomechanical objectives within the ‘DustChamber’.
Nonetheless, these deliberations serve to refine the pool of potential highland simulants obtainable in Europe. Ultimately, themost suitable simulant candidate will be meticulously chosen to facilitate comprehensive testing of geotechnical and engineeringrelated activities within the Dust Chamber. It comprises due diligence of the full simulant supply chain (including assessment of
the source site, excavation and processing methods, and quality control). Consequently, discerning selection process aims tocontribute substantively to the accumulation of essential knowledge, thus enhancing our readiness for the upcoming sample
return and human lunar surface missions in this decade.
Table 1. Priority activities, among 36 simulant users surveyed in 2022 (35 European-based, 1 Japan-based), centring around exploration
hardware and resource extraction studies. Red: 25-28%; Yellow: 11-16%; Green: 3-8%; Grey: No data.
Lunar

MartianAsteroids /Meteorites

OtherSpacecraft, instruments and/orsoftware
ISRU(Resource extraction)
ISRU(Additive manufacturing)
ISRU(Unspecified)
Planetary Science Research

References[1] A. Zemeny and K. Manick (2023) Lunar highland simulant selection of the Luna Analogue Facility Dust Chamber for future
missions – Space Resources Week, Luxembourg