Later this month, the researchers plan to fly rats aboard a NASA plane that can simulate weightlessness by making steep, parabolic dives through the atmosphere. At specific times during the drops, when conditions are most like the moon's gravity (about one-sixth of Earth's), the rats will get blasts of particle-laced air. After the flight, the animals will be euthanized and studied to assess how deeply the particles settled in the lungs. Earlier studies on humans using non-toxic particles show that in microgravity the particles can reach deeper, more sensitive regions of the lung, Darquenne said. "Given the fact that the lunar dust seems to be highly toxic, there is a concern that it may be harmful for the people who would be on the moon," she said. While not a show-stopper for NASA's lunar exploration plans, concerns about dust may prompt special procedures for decontaminating spacesuits and equipment after excursions outside the habitat. "We're doing research to understand the risks," Jones said. "It's clearly going to be more hazardous than dust on Earth." Related Links: |
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