Solving Lunar Spacesuit Challenges with Simulation and Measurement
When astronauts return to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis program, their spacesuits must handle some extreme conditions. Dust, radiation, and electrical charging on the lunar surface can all interfere with suit electronics and communications if they are not carefully considered.
This is where Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. (EMA) expertise applies. Working with NASA’s Johnson Space Center, EMA is helping develop a new way to make sure Artemis spacesuits are ready for the lunar environment before astronauts ever leave Earth.
Hidden Threats to Spacesuits
Unlike Earth, the Moon has no strong magnetic field or thick atmosphere to block radiation. That means astronauts working on the lunar surface are exposed to high-energy particles from space, including radiation from the Sun and cosmic sources. Radiation can lead to material degradation, limited shielding from solar events, and risk during spacewalks.
Another threat is electrical charging. Charges build up in two main ways:
- Solar and plasma exposure: Charged particles in space interact with suit materials
- Dust contact: As lunar dust rubs against the suit, it can transfer electrical charge, a process similar to static electricity on Earth.
If charge builds up unevenly, it can suddenly release as an electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD can interfere with or damage sensitive electronics used for communications, sensors, and life-support systems.
Finding Charging Risks with Simulation
Radiation and charging effects are difficult to predict with testing alone, so EMA uses physics-based simulation software to analyze the effects. Ansys Charge Plus is used to explore how different suit materials and layered designs might react to lunar dust and space plasma. These virtual models help pinpoint where electrical buildup could occur and identify potential risks early, before they become costly or dangerous problems. Charge Plus is currently the only commercially available software capable of computing these types of space-charging problems in 3D.
Testing in the SERE Lab
To ensure simulations reflect real-world conditions, EMA backs them with physical testing at its Space Environment and Radiation Effects (SERE) Lab in Pittsfield, Mass. There, key aspects of the lunar environment can be recreated on the ground, allowing engineers to measure how materials actually behave and then feed that data back into the simulations for even greater accuracy.
Smarter Design Through Simulation and Measurement
Combining simulation and targeted measurement provides a smarter, faster way for design teams to understand risk, explore design options, and focus testing where it matters most. Whether you’re working on spacecraft, aircraft, or electronics, this approach helps to alleviate surprises, save time and cost, and build confidence that designs will perform as expected in the real world.
Contact EMA now to learn how Charge Plus and the SERE Lab can solve your toughest problems, even if you are not headed to space.
Learn more about EMA’s role in the Artemis missions in the flyer below.
