Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Perseverance detects Mars dust particles small enough to reach deep into lungs
NASA’s Perseverance rover measured tiny Martian dust particles collected on samples of spacesuit materials during 1,645 Martian days.
Some particles were smaller than 2.5 micrometres, and others were around 100 nanometres.
Particles this small can penetrate deep into the lungs, and research on Earth suggests some may travel from the nose towards the brain.
The study does not show that Mars dust causes brain damage in people; actual health risks will depend on how much dust astronauts encounter and for how long.
Different materials attracted different particle sizes, apparently because of static electricity, so suit materials may affect which dust sticks to them.
Martian dust also contains compounds that can harm health, while past Apollo missions showed that dust can damage spacesuits and affect crew members.
The measurements could help engineers design safer suits and habitats and develop ways to remove dust before it enters living areas.
NASA says the findings could also inform dust-removal procedures and health standards for future Mars crews.
Perseverance measured fine and ultrafine Martian dust that can be small enough to penetrate deep into human lungs.
The rover detected particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres and ultrafine particles around 100 nanometres.
The measurements came from dust collected on instrument targets and spacesuit-material samples over 1,645 Martian days.
Different materials attracted different particle sizes, with static electricity appearing to influence which grains stuck.
The findings could help guide spacesuit and habitat design, dust-removal procedures and crew health standards for future Mars missions.
- Who
- NASA’s Perseverance rover and the scientists studying dust it collected.
- What
- The rover measured fine and ultrafine Martian dust, including particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
- When
- Over 1,645 Martian days. The study was due to be published Oct. 27, 2026.
- Where
- On Mars, using dust collected on instrument targets and spacesuit-material samples carried by Perseverance.
- Why
- To understand potential risks to future astronauts and inform protective equipment, habitats and procedures.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Perseverance collected dust on instrument targets and spacesuit-material samples during its operations on Mars.
The study was scheduled for publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
- Dust collection period
- 1,645 Martian days
- Fine-particle threshold
- Less than 2.5 micrometres
- Ultrafine-particle size
- Around 100 nanometres
- Earlier measurement limit
- About 3 micrometres
- Instrument used for dust measurements
- PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry)
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What people are saying
Perseverance is giving our engineers and flight surgeons measurements they can use to improve our existing designs well before the first American astronauts arrive on Mars.
Perseverance’s main job is to search for signs of ancient microbial life, but the mission was also designed to help prepare for human explorers.