NE North Dakota News

On January 20, The Conversation published an article co-authored by Jesse Rhoades and Rebecca Rhoades from the University of North Dakota. The article highlights the need for more durable boots for astronauts in NASA's Artemis mission, which aims to return humans to the moon.

The piece has gained significant attention, being republished by 32 media outlets and read over 20,000 times globally. The Conversation is known for its "explanatory journalism" provided by university scholars.

The Apollo missions targeted the Moon's equatorial regions with temperatures as low as -9 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, Artemis missions will explore the Moon's polar regions where temperatures can drop to -369 degrees Fahrenheit. This new environment demands more robust equipment than what was used during Apollo missions.

At UND, research focuses on biomechanics and human movement in extreme environments. One crucial piece of equipment is the boots used for extravehicular activities on the lunar surface. These boots must withstand harsh conditions at the lunar south pole.

Current lunar boots incorporate a rigid thermal plate in their soles to retain heat but restrict natural foot movement at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. This joint plays a role in normal walking and running patterns through a mechanism called the windlass mechanism, which hasn't been well-studied under lunar gravity.

Prolonged use of such stiff-soled boots could lead to foot injuries that might affect other body parts due to compensatory mechanisms within what kinesiologists call a kinetic chain.

The success of Moon missions depends on many details, including how much flex is allowed in boot soles. While short-term stays may not pose issues, longer durations could lead to complications affecting astronauts' health.