When spacecraft perform vertical landing and takeoff maneuvers from the lunar surface, the results are very messy! Beyond the intense heat produced by the rocket engines, the force also kicks up regolith, the particulate dust that covers most of the lunar surface. With so many crewed and cargo missions planned for the coming years, space agencies are contracting with commercial partners to develop infrastructure that will keep spacecraft, astronauts, and other surface elements safe from all "moondust."

This includes landing pads that provide a stable surface and barrier for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles. To help them realize their objectives under the Artemis Program, NASA has enlisted engineers from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to create some. Their work is part of a multi-year partnership with Linc Research Inc.…