Moon dust could become the foundation of humanity’s first permanent lunar base

Moon dust could become the foundation of humanity’s first permanent lunar base

The dust under a moonwalker’s boots looks harmless from a distance. Up close, it is anything but. Lunar regolith, the blanket of pulverized rock and glass covering the moon, is abrasive, dangerous and unforgiving. In fact, it can tear through seals, wear down equipment and cling to surfaces in an airless environment. That environment is marked by radiation and violent temperature swings. That makes it one of the worst imaginable building materia…