Lunar SCRUB
[Surface Cleaning Robotic Unit with Electron Beams]
Contactless Lunar Dust Mitigation for Critical Surface System
Keeping Lunar Infrastructure Operational
SCRUB mitigates the impact of lunar dust on critical surface systems.
Lunar dust is sharp, abrasive, electrostatically charged, and persistent — degrading performance, reducing reliability, and threatening long-duration lunar operations.
“Dust is the number one concern in returning to the Moon.”
— Apollo 16 Astronaut John Young
Image credit: NASA
Solar arrays, reducing power generation
Thermal control surfaces, degrading heat regulation
EVA hardware and operations
Seals and interfaces, compromising integrity
Sensors and optics, reducing performance
Mechanical interfaces and mechanisms, impairing motion and reliability
Lunar dust can impact:
The SCRUB Solution
SCRUB uses an electron beam to remove dust through electrostatic lofting — a contactless process designed for lunar surface operations.
Contactless operation
No consumables required
Low power: 30 W
Validated through 50+ vacuum tests
Currently at TRL 4
Demonstrated up to 90% dust-removal efficacy
Meet Dusty
Lunar SCRUB’s dust specialist*
Dusty is the official mascot of Lunar SCRUB and Orbital Mining Corporation’s lunar dust mitigation work. Dusty helps make complex lunar dust challenges more approachable.
* No dinosaurs were exposed to electron beams during testing
In Partnership with:
Space Dust Research & Technologies
