NASA’s Artemis III mission is expected to return astronauts to the surface to explore and sample the
lunar volatiles by 2026. These volatiles are anticipated to provide scientific insights as to how the
Moon was created and economic value to off-Earth operations. These same volatiles can pose
health implications to astronauts and Earth based personnel handling lunar regolith samples. Using
Australian, USA and NASA airborne contaminant exposure limits and the Lunar CRater Observation
and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) measurements of lunar volatiles in the Cabeus crater ejecta, the
minimum mass of lunar regolith that can be safely handled by humans on Earth and in spacecraft
can be calculated. This analysis determined a 0.15 grams pure sample of Cabeus crater regolith
within a cubic metre of air has enough volatiles to exceed safe working conditions, and 14.9 grams
of pure Cabeus crater regolith per cubic metre of air can impact human life.
The intent of this analysis is to assist safe handling and exposure calculations for the safe handling
procedures of lunar regolith containing volatiles.