Development of a novel lunar highland soil simulant (LSS-ISAC-1) and its geotechnical properties for Chandrayaan missions

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has planned to explore the possibility of soft-land the lander/rover on the highland area of the Moon. The rover mobility and interaction studies under the terrain condition of the Moon need a large quantity of lunar soil simulant. This study presents the development of a new novel lunar highland soil simulant (LSS-ISAC-1) by using natural terrain anorthosite rock fragments without the addition of any chemicals or other minerals, etc. This study presents the development of a new lunar highland soil simulant (LSS-ISAC-1) representing the lunar highland soils. The geotechnical properties such as particle size distribution, specific gravity, shear strength, compaction, and compressibility of the LSS-ISAC-1 have been determined and compared with the Apollo 16 lunar highland soil properties and other available highland simulants. The bulk chemistry and particle morphology of the simulant were identified by performing X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Tests (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The comparison shows that the bulk chemistry, mineralogy, and geotechnical properties of the LSS-ISAC-1 are representative of the Apollo 16 lunar highland soil and comparatively match with the lunar highland simulants.