Understanding the mechanical response of a high -speed penetrator penetrating icy lunar regolith (ILR) is essential for designing penetrators in lunar permanently shadowed regions and interpreting the detection data from the device. Experimental research on the penetrators is limited in engineering due to the difficulties in preparing large-scale icy lunar regolith simulants (ILRS). Such limitation urges the need to construct a theoretical model and verify a numerical simulation model based on the scaled-down penetration experimental results, which provide insights into the mechanical response of penetrator penetrating ILR. Projectile penetration experiments were conducted on ILRS targets with four typical water content levels in a cryogenic chamber at 110 K. The experimental results show that the ILRS with higher water content exhibits greater brittleness and a faster crack growth rate. Consequently, the diameters of cratering and scabbing areas are augmented on the target surface upon projectile penetration. Moreover, increased mechanical strength decreases the plugging height on the ILRS targets. Based on the projectile residual velocities, the equivalent target strength parameter R were calculated and fitted to a functional relationship with the uniaxial compressive strength. RHT model parameters were calibrated using the test results of the dynamic and static mechanical properties of the simulants. Numerical simulation of projectile penetration into semi-infinite and thick targets were conducted using the calibrated model. The simulation results demonstrate high consistency with the experimental and theoretical calculations, indicating the effectiveness of the constitutive model in describing the mechanical response of the ILRS under projectile penetration.

Lunar exploration has emerged as an exciting area for the scientific community and aerospace industries. However, the lunar environment presents daunting challenges, including extreme temperatures, high vacuum conditions, and sharp abrasive lunar regolith. Past explorations have demonstrated that the lunar regolith is particularly difficult to contend with, as its abrasive and erosive nature damages equipment and rover due to wear. Herein, an assessment is made on the tribological performance of key structural and optical components used in space vehicles, rovers, and on-field equipment operating in the lunar regolith environment. The evolution of erosive and abrasive test equipment, its benefits, limitations, and simulant characteristics, such as particle morphology and size, are examined on different materials' impact and abrasive wear. Abrasive and erosive wear mechanisms are elucidated based on regolith particle impact velocity, impact angle (erosion), regolith morphology, and particle size (abrasion). The lack of research on how temperature affects the wear behavior of materials under lunar regolith represents a significant gap in current knowledge. By identifying these gaps and providing alternative pathways, this critique can guide researchers in developing effective dust mitigation strategies and advancing the testing and analysis of prospective space materials. (c) 2023 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc-nd/4.0/).