Nasa — NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected ultrafine Martian dust that can remain attached to spacesuit materials for years. The findings highlight a potential challenge for future human missions to Mars, where dust could enter habitats and pose health risks.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in late October 2026, the study analyzed dust collected on material samples carried by Perseverance over 1,645 Martian days.
Martian Dust Smaller Than 300 Nanometers
Perseverance used its PIXL and SHERLOC instruments to examine dust particles on the Martian surface and spacesuit material samples. The rover detected particles measuring around 100 to 300 nanometers—roughly 700 times thinner than a human hair.
Earlier Mars missions could measure dust particles only down to about 3 micrometers. The new observations identified much smaller particles, including those below 2.5 micrometers.
Such ultrafine particles may penetrate deep into human lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream. Martian dust also contains silica, iron compounds, and chlorine-bearing salts such as perchlorates, which can pose toxicological risks depending on exposure.
Unlike the sharp, angular lunar dust that damaged Apollo spacesuits, Martian dust is generally smoother and more rounded. However, its small size and chemical composition present different challenges.
Dust Remains Attached to Spacesuit Materials
Perseverance carries small samples of spacesuit materials on its robotic arm. These include Vectran, Teflon, Ortho-Fabric, and polycarbonate, similar to materials used in astronaut gloves, suits, and helmet visors.
The observations showed that larger dust particles were sometimes removed by wind, temperature-driven air movements, and rover vibrations during driving and drilling. However, the finest particles remained attached throughout the 1,645 Martian days.
Vectran collected larger particles, particularly beneath its fabric weave. Teflon accumulated less dust, but the particles that remained were finer. Electrostatic forces appear to influence how dust binds to different surfaces.
Researchers found no significant visible damage to the tested materials after years of exposure.
NASA Develops Measures to Protect Future Astronauts
NASA’s Martian Dust Limit Working Group has established a preliminary exposure limit of 0.1 milligrams of dust per cubic meter of air, averaged over 24 hours, for missions lasting up to 30 days.
The findings could help engineers develop safer spacesuits, habitats, and dust-removal systems. Potential solutions include suitports, dual-chamber airlocks, and advanced habitat filtration systems to prevent dust from entering living spaces.
Scott VanBommel of Washington University in St. Louis, the study’s lead author and a Perseverance science team member, noted that smaller particles can reach deeper into the body and are harder to clear.
NASA’s Lindsay Hays said Perseverance’s measurements could help engineers and flight surgeons improve equipment designs before astronauts reach Mars.
The study did not measure health effects in humans. Instead, it examined dust particle sizes, composition, and interactions with different materials.
Perseverance continues exploring Jezero Crater, collecting rock and soil samples while providing environmental data that could support future crewed missions to Mars.
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