This article details the design, construction, and operation of a benchtop centrifuge tailored for adhesion measurements. The device is intentionally simple, leveraging widely available components and exclusively employing 3D printing as the manufacturing method. The centrifuge facilitates the measurement of detachment forces, with user-adjustable sample attachment points via an interface or double-sided tape. The adhesion force is determined by considering both the detachment force and the mass of the dust; to achieve this, optical microscopy may be employed to determine the dust mass accurately. A user-friendly graphical interface allows for the input of desired rotational speeds and durations, while a built-in encoder and PID algorithm ensure precise operation.

Future lunar exploration efforts rely on an improved understanding of regolith behavior, as evidenced by the adhesion problems encountered during the Apollo missions. The Lunaris Payload, a compact lunar instrument developed in Poland, aims to assess the adhesion of lunar regoliths to various materials using an optical method chosen to meet strict mass constraints. We introduce and validate a resource-constrained optical method to estimate three-dimensional volumes of lunar regolith particles from two-dimensional imagery, using high-resolution micro-CT as ground truth. The approach supports in-situ surface characterization and dust-related risk assessment under the mass and power constraints typical of small payloads. Micro-CT scans were used to establish accurate reference volumes, and multiple geometric approximation methods were applied, including spherical, ellipsoidal, and cylindrical models, to derive volume estimates from a 2D representation. Comparative analyses demonstrate that ellipsoid-based models, particularly those that incorporate a fixed aspect ratio, provide the most accurate volume estimations. These findings offer a practical in situ methodology for analysing the volumes of regolith particles, thus advancing the capacity of the Lunaris mission to characterise lunar adhesion of regolith particles and supporting broader efforts in lunar resource utilisation and habitat construction. To our knowledge, this is the first benchmarking of six 2D-to-3D volume models against micro-CT for lunar regolith adhesion applications. Our findings demonstrate that ellipsoid-based methods achieve the best results, offering a validated, efficient technique for in-situ dust characterization critical for future lunar missions.

Background: Long-duration spaceflight (LDSF) poses unique challenges to ocular health as microgravity, radiation, and environmental changes can cause lasting visual and structural impairments that affect astronaut performance. Objective: This review synthesises current evidence on in- and post-flight ocular complications. It integrates clinical findings, terrestrial analogues, animal studies, and theoretical models to characterise the pathophysiology, risk factors, and countermeasures associated with spaceflight-induced ocular changes. Methods: A review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, focusing on dry eye disease, corneal edema, ocular biometric shifts, spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), and radiation-induced cataractogenesis. Data from in-flight imaging, post-flight assessments, and ground-based analogues were analysed. Results: Spaceflight induces multifactorial ocular changes, including tear film instability, optic disc edema, posterior globe flattening, and hyperopic refractive shifts. These effects are thought to result from cephalad fluid shifts compartmentalised cerebrospinal fluid pressure, venous congestion, and impaired glymphatic system. Long-term risks, such as cataractogenesis, are linked to radiation exposure and genetic susceptibility. Although several countermeasures are being explored, no single approach fully prevents these complications. Conclusions: Ocular complications during LDSF remain a significant challenge for astronaut health and mission performance. A multimodal approach combining mechanical, nutritional, and diagnostic strategies will be essential for future exploration-class missions. Further research is needed to refine countermeasures and preserve astronauts’ visual function.

Future lunar exploration will depend on a clearer understanding of regolith behavior, as underscored by adhesion issues observed during Apollo. The Lunaris Payload, a compact instrument developed in Poland, targets in situ assessment of lunar regolith adhesion to engineering materials using a resource-constrained optical approach. Here we introduce and validate six lightweight 2D-to-3D geometric models for estimating particle volume from planar images, benchmarked against the high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) ground truth. The tested methods include spherical, cylindrical, fixed-aspect-ratio ellipsoid, adaptive ellipsoid, and Feret-based models and an empirically scaled voxel proxy. Using micro-CT scans of adhered simulant particles, we evaluate accuracy across >8000 particles segmented from 2D projections. Ellipsoid-based models consistently outperform the alternatives, with absolute percentage errors of 30–35%, while fixed-aspect-ratio variants offer strong accuracy–complexity trade-offs suitable for mass- and power-limited payloads. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive benchmarking of six 2D-to-3D volume models against micro-CT for bulk-adhered lunar regolith analogs. The results provide a validated, efficient framework for in situ dust characterization and reliable particle mass estimation, advancing Lunaris’ capability to quantify regolith adhesion and supporting broader goals in dust mitigation, ISRU, or habitat construction.