Trending

Mars dust: NASA Perseverance finds ultrafine particles that could reach astronauts’ lungs

By /

Over 1,645 Martian days, NASA’s Perseverance rover measured fine and ultrafine Mars dust clinging to samples of spacesuit material it carries, including particles small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, NASA said on 26 October 2026.

Mars dust: A 360-degree panorama from Perseverance shows Neretva Vallis, a dusty dried river channel on the rim of Jezero Crater
A 360-degree panorama from Perseverance shows Neretva Vallis, a dusty dried river channel on the rim of Jezero Crater Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS (public domain).

What Perseverance found about Mars dust

The findings are being published on Tuesday, 27 October, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), and could inform spacesuit and habitat design, dust-removal methods and crew health standards for future Mars missions, NASA said. Earlier measurements on Mars resolved dust down to about 3 micrometres. The PIXL instrument detected fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres and ultrafine particles around 100 nanometres, about 700 times thinner than a human hair. On Earth, fine particles of this size are linked to health problems because they can go deep into the lungs. “The smallest particles stay behind, and those are the ones that pose the greatest challenge for human support systems,” said lead author Scott VanBommel of Washington University in St. Louis.

Key Facts

  • Rover: NASA Perseverance, Jezero Crater
  • Period: 1,645 Martian days
  • Smallest particles: about 100 nanometres
  • Instruments: PIXL and SHERLOC calibration targets
  • Study: PNAS, published 27 October 2026

“The smallest particles stay behind, and those are the ones that pose the greatest challenge for human support systems.”

— Scott VanBommel, lead author

Spacesuit materials on the Perseverance rover

The rover carries five samples of spacesuit material, each 20 millimetres square, on a calibration target for its SHERLOC instrument. PIXL’s own calibration target holds samples of Teflon and basaltic glass. Because PIXL cannot directly detect the elements in Teflon, any signal it picks up from that sample comes from dust sitting on it. The team also studied Teflon and Vectran swatches, two materials used in spacesuits. Static electricity appears to decide which particle sizes stick to which surface, and organic polymers like Teflon, common in outer spacesuit layers, readily collect fine dust, NASA said. The chemistry matched the iron- and sulfur-rich dust seen by earlier missions, with added phosphorus and signs of calcium sulfate.

Why the Mars dust results matter for crews

Lunar dust scratched visors and damaged spacesuit seals during the Apollo missions, and some astronauts reported hay fever-like symptoms. Martian grains are rounder and less abrasive but contain perchlorates that can disrupt thyroid function and reactive iron that can damage cells, NASA said. “Dust has been a surface-exploration challenge since the Apollo program,” said Lindsay Hays, acting director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. The study found some materials hold less dust than others, which could guide future choices, and designs such as suitports and dual-chamber airlocks could keep dust out of living quarters. NASA said these are the first on-site measurements of fine and ultrafine particles on Mars. Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance’s project scientist at JPL, said the mission was also designed to help prepare for human explorers, through technology demonstrations such as MOXIE and the Ingenuity helicopter as well as the spacesuit samples.

Why It Matters: Knowing the size and chemistry of Martian dust helps engineers design suits and habitats that keep harmful particles away from future crews.

Also on TrendDesh: Perseverance rover sets record for the longest drive on another world at 45.22 km · CHAPEA Mission 2 crew marks one year inside NASA's simulated Mars habitat, exit set for 31 October

Source: NASA, 26 Oct 2026 · NASA Mars 2020 mission

Share

Today’s News 27 Oct 2026 · 18 stories

  1. NASA USDA agreement: space agency data to help track crops, yields and drought in the US1NASA USDA agreement: space agency data to help track crops, yields and drought in the USOct 27, 2026
  2. Ukraine war crimes: UN inquiry says Russian strikes on power plants targeted civilians2Ukraine war crimes: UN inquiry says Russian strikes on power plants targeted civiliansOct 27, 2026
  3. Mars dust: NASA Perseverance finds ultrafine particles that could reach astronauts’ lungs3Mars dust: NASA Perseverance finds ultrafine particles that could reach astronauts’ lungsOct 27, 2026 · Reading now
  4. Ebola in DR Congo: UN and WHO condemn killing of a nurse responding to an alert in Tshopo4Ebola in DR Congo: UN and WHO condemn killing of a nurse responding to an alert in TshopoOct 27, 2026
  5. Fall foliage from space: NASA PACE satellite maps where leaves turn red across the globe5Fall foliage from space: NASA PACE satellite maps where leaves turn red across the globeOct 27, 2026
  6. Women and girls in conflict: share of civilian war deaths doubles since 2021, UN report says6Women and girls in conflict: share of civilian war deaths doubles since 2021, UN report saysOct 27, 2026
  7. Guterres in Egypt warns Iran-US sabre-rattling could push the region out of control7Guterres in Egypt warns Iran-US sabre-rattling could push the region out of controlOct 27, 2026
  8. Rajasthan panchayat election: State Election Commissioner leads voter awareness rally in Sikar8Rajasthan panchayat election: State Election Commissioner leads voter awareness rally in SikarOct 27, 2026
  9. Rajasthan recruitment: 1.9 lakh appointments so far and 45,645 more due soon, Chief Secretary told9Rajasthan recruitment: 1.9 lakh appointments so far and 45,645 more due soon, Chief Secretary toldOct 27, 2026
  10. INS Trishul reaches Civitavecchia in Italy after a passage exercise with the Italian Navy10INS Trishul reaches Civitavecchia in Italy after a passage exercise with the Italian NavyOct 27, 2026
  11. Child labour in Rajasthan: about 5,000 children freed in four years, Chief Secretary orders survey11Child labour in Rajasthan: about 5,000 children freed in four years, Chief Secretary orders surveyOct 27, 2026
  12. NIT Raipur and INAE open youth engineering conclave with about 270 participants in 180 teams12NIT Raipur and INAE open youth engineering conclave with about 270 participants in 180 teamsOct 27, 2026
  13. Rajasthan milk production is second in India, Governor Bagde tells veterinary symposium in Jobner13Rajasthan milk production is second in India, Governor Bagde tells veterinary symposium in JobnerOct 27, 2026
  14. Plastic engineering in agriculture: 22nd AICRP PEASEM workshop opens in Ranipool, Sikkim14Plastic engineering in agriculture: 22nd AICRP PEASEM workshop opens in Ranipool, SikkimOct 27, 2026
  15. Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 begins: integrity pledges at Bhilai Steel Plant and Union ministries15Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 begins: integrity pledges at Bhilai Steel Plant and Union ministriesOct 27, 2026
  16. Science on Wheels: IIT Mandi takes hands-on science to 50 Himachal Pradesh schools16Science on Wheels: IIT Mandi takes hands-on science to 50 Himachal Pradesh schoolsOct 27, 2026
  17. HNLU COLOSSUS and IMUNYP 2026 end in Raipur with about 1,000 students from 25 colleges17HNLU COLOSSUS and IMUNYP 2026 end in Raipur with about 1,000 students from 25 collegesOct 27, 2026
  18. BRICS Parliamentary Forum opens in Parliament’s Central Hall as PM Modi meets visiting BRICS MPs18BRICS Parliamentary Forum opens in Parliament’s Central Hall as PM Modi meets visiting BRICS MPsOct 27, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top