Abstract
Designs for structures, vehicles, and equipment to be used on the surfaces of the moon and Mars cannot be optimized without a knowledge of how soils in various gravitational fields and atmospheric conditions behave when subjected to static and dynamic loading. Strengths of the lunar and Martian gravitational fields (0.17 and 0.38 times terrestrial, respectively) can be simulated for approximately 30 sec by flying the KC-135 aircraft through appropriate parabolas. Effects of gravitational field on explosion crater formation and projectile penetration have been investigated. Techniques devised for use in these tests are discussed. Diameters of explosion craters and depths of projectile penetration in sand were found to increase as the gravitational field strength decreased. Atmospheric pressure variations down to ultra-high vacuum are significant in the behavior of rock powders. Approaches used in ultra-high vacuum tests on adhesion and compressibility of basalt powders are discussed. The forces of adhesion between rock powders and metal alloy surfaces were noted to be greater in ultra-high vacuum than in air. The forces required to compress slowly a basalt powder are greater after bakeout and exposure to ultra-high vacuum than when this rock powder is tested at atmospheric pressure.
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