Perseverance Measures Martian Dust Down to 100 Nanometers: What NASA Says About Protecting Crews

NASA reports that Perseverance measures Martian dust in data that could help protect future crews. The study, published on October 27, 2026 in the journal PNAS, used spacesuit material samples carried by the rover to see which dust particles stick to them. This article summarizes NASA’s account, explains the particle sizes and notes what the agency says about possible health concerns. It describes research findings and is not health advice.

What did Perseverance measure?

NASA says Perseverance gathered data over 1,645 Martian days. Its PIXL instrument detected fine particles under 2.5 micrometers and ultrafine particles around 100 nanometers. Earlier Mars measurements, NASA says, resolved particles only down to about 3 micrometers. On the PIXL Teflon target and the SHERLOC Vectran swatch, particles averaged about 2 micrometers. On the PIXL basaltic glass and the SHERLOC Teflon swatch, particle sizes reached down to about 100 to 300 nanometers. The spacesuit material samples are 20 millimeters square, about three-quarters of an inch.

What is the dust like?

NASA describes Martian dust as less abrasive than lunar dust, because wind-driven collisions have rounded the grains. It is enriched in sulfur, chlorine and iron and contains more silica than lunar dust. The chemistry is similar to what earlier missions measured, and PIXL also found phosphorus enrichment and signs of calcium sulfate. NASA adds that static electricity appears to determine which particle sizes stick to which materials.

Why does particle size matter?

NASA says that on Earth, particles under 2.5 micrometers can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. It also says earlier studies indicate that ultrafine particles up to 100 nanometers can travel from the nasal cavity to the brain along the olfactory nerve. Martian dust contains perchlorates, which can disrupt thyroid function, and reactive iron, which can damage cells. NASA states that health risks are believed to depend on how much dust is present and how long exposure lasts. These are NASA’s statements about concerns and not conclusions about any specific crew.

How could the findings be used?

NASA says the results could guide spacesuit and habitat materials, protective coatings, suitports and dual-chamber airlocks that limit dust entering living quarters. A suitport lets a person enter a suit from inside a habitat without bringing the suit’s outside surface indoors. That definition is general and is not quoted from NASA. During Apollo, NASA notes, lunar dust scratched visors, damaged suit layers and seals, and some crew reported hay-fever-like symptoms.

How to read the numbers

By our own arithmetic, 1,645 Martian days is about 1,690 Earth days, or roughly 4.6 years, since a Martian day is about 2.75% longer than an Earth day. A 100-nanometer particle is 0.1 micrometer, so a 2.5-micrometer particle is 25 times wider. The 3-micrometer limit of earlier work is therefore 30 times wider than the 100-nanometer particles the new study detected. A square 20 millimeters on a side is about 0.79 inch, consistent with NASA’s three-quarters of an inch. These calculations are ours, and the sol conversion is a general astronomy fact, not from NASA.

Why compare with lunar dust?

Lunar dust is well studied because Apollo crews brought it back. NASA contrasts it with Martian dust to show where concerns differ: the Martian grains are rounder and therefore less abrasive, but they carry chemicals such as perchlorates. The comparison helps planners decide which protections matter most for each destination. The article does not rank the two dusts by overall danger, so we do not either.

Why use spacesuit materials as the test surface?

The samples are pieces of material of the kind used in suits, placed on the rover so that real Martian dust can land on them. That setup tells engineers what actually sticks to each fabric and coating, which is more useful than a laboratory guess. NASA notes that particle sizes differed between materials, with static electricity appearing to decide what clings where. For designers, the practical lesson is that no single material is likely to repel every size of grain, so layered protection may matter.

What are the limits of the study?

NASA’s description centers on how particles stick to suit materials and how small they are. It does not report measured health effects, and it says risk depends on amount and exposure time. The findings come from instruments on one rover in one area of Mars, so they may not describe dust everywhere on the planet. That last point is a general caution and is not in NASA’s article.

How does it connect to other coverage?

Dust is one of many problems that future crews will face. Our article on NASA’s simulated Mars crew covers the ground analog testing how people live and work in a habitat, and our report on Artemis III covers a 2027 test of lunar landers ahead of a planned crewed landing. Our summary of Artemis II describes the first crewed Moon flyby of the program. Each addresses a different piece of long-distance exploration.

Related reading: Teghaza 001: NASA-Funded Study Dates One of the Oldest Mars Meteorites at 4.1 Billion Years.

Related reading: Yardangs on Mars: Curiosity Photographs Wind-Carved Cliffs at Dawn.

Glossary

• Micrometer: one millionth of a meter
• Nanometer: one billionth of a meter
• Perchlorate: a chlorine-based chemical found in Martian soil
• Sol: a Martian day
• PIXL and SHERLOC: instruments on Perseverance that analyze rocks and surfaces

These definitions are general explanations and are not quoted from NASA.

What is not covered here?

We have not described how the study was designed beyond NASA’s summary, and the NASA page does not give the authors or the names of every sample. We did not read the PNAS paper itself. Readers who want details should consult the paper.

Key facts at a glance

• Published: October 27, 2026, in PNAS
• Data span: 1,645 Martian days
• Smallest particles: about 100 nanometers
• Fine particles: under 2.5 micrometers
• Dust property: less abrasive than lunar dust, with perchlorates and reactive iron

Frequently asked questions

Is Martian dust dangerous?

NASA says risks are believed to depend on how much dust there is and how long people are exposed.

Why is it less abrasive than lunar dust?

Wind-driven collisions have rounded the grains.

What could protect crews?

NASA mentions better suit and habitat materials, coatings, suitports and dual-chamber airlocks.