Date Time Student-Led Moon Dust Shield Team Named Finalist in NASA Competition Moon dust, the fine, fluffy powder covering the moon, is the stuff of imagination, the subject of scientific inquiry, and potential building block for lunar colonies. It is also a menace to exploration. As astronauts walk across the moon, land spacecraft on its surface, drive lunar rovers around, or complete other astronaut tasks, they kick up the dust, and that is a problem because it can cause premature wear on mechanical parts, damage to seals, and may pose a health risk for the people breathing it in. Additionally, it has qualities that make it cling to nearly every available surface.