Using Magnets to Collect Martian Dust
Space exploration may still seem like science fiction to some, but rest assured, it is very real, and humanity is learning more each year. Our scientists are actually starting to get down to the nitty-gritty of space, meaning Martian rocks and dust. This highly magnetic material is collected by exploratory rovers so that we can study and reveal any secrets it might hold about Mars’ past, specifically in relation to geologic history.
That said, how do we go about collecting space dust that is hundreds of millions of miles away from the nearest human-being? The answer is three-fold: rovers, rock abrasion tools (RAT), and perhaps most important, magnets, referred to as “capture,” “filter,” and “sweep,” depending on their function.
- Capture magnets: Attract any magnetic particle in range
- Filter magnets: Capture only the most magnetic particles
- Sweep magnets: Only allows non-magnetic particles to collect in the center of the magnet