Lunar soil simulants (LSS) have been pivotal in the success of past and current lunar missions. They have enhanced the design of lander and rover wheels through interaction studies on the lunar testbed under simulated environmental conditions. They have also been used to evaluate the geotechnical, geomechanical, and dynamic characteristics of the lunar soil (LS), which is vital for future lunar outposts. While most simulants have focused on either the chemical and mineralogical or geotechnical properties, developing a comprehensive LSS that mimics the lunar soil is of paramount importance for lander and rover soft-landing and future lunar habitation. This article presents the significant development and characterization of the new LSS NYUAD-1, the first regional soil simulant tailored for the planned Emirates lunar missions. The material and geotechnical properties of NYUAD-1, including chemical composition, mineralogy, particle size, morphology, specific gravity, density, shear strength, and compressibility behaviors, were assessed through laboratory tests conducted per ASTM standards. Comparative analysis with authentic lunar regolith and various regolith simulants confirms the significance and applicability of NYUAD-1 for lunar-based research, offering a promising step toward future lunar habitation.

中文翻译：

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用于阿联酋月球任务的区域月壤模拟物的开发和表征


月壤模拟物 （LSS） 在过去和当前的月球任务成功中发挥着关键作用。他们通过在模拟环境条件下对月球试验台的相互作用研究，增强了着陆器和漫游车轮的设计。它们还被用于评估月壤 （LS） 的岩土工程、岩土力学和动力学特性，这对未来的月球前哨至关重要。虽然大多数模拟物都侧重于化学和矿物学或岩土工程特性，但开发模拟月球土壤的综合 LSS 对于着陆器和漫游车软着陆以及未来的月球居住至关重要。本文介绍了新型 LSS NYUAD-1 的重要开发和特征，这是第一个为计划中的阿联酋航空登月任务量身定制的区域土壤模拟物。NYUAD-1 的材料和岩土工程特性，包括化学成分、矿物学、粒度、形态、比重、密度、剪切强度和可压缩性，均通过按照 ASTM 标准进行的实验室测试进行评估。与真实的月球风化层和各种风化层模拟物的比较分析证实了 NYUAD-1 对月球研究的重要性和适用性，为未来的月球居住迈出了充满希望的一步。