We are part of the Center for Lunar Environment and Volatile Exploration Research (CLEVER) which is one of many NASA SSERVI Centers (Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute). CLEVER will study the lunar environment and the generation and properties of volatiles and dust.

The interaction of cosmic and solar wind radiation with the lunar surface can produce atom vacancies, defects and etched tracks that have been used in geochronology. These defects can trap charge and are signatures of the radiation and geological history of the lunar surface. Physical agitation of dust during exploration activities also leads to grain charging via triboelectric processes. Charging and dust adherence are potentially major risk factors to both equipment and astronaut operations on the lunar surface.