How Sunlight Ages Astronaut Equipment on the Moon
On the Moon, hardware sits in an environment far harsher than anything on Earth because there is no atmosphere, weather or magnetic shielding to soften the Sun’s output. Every sunrise brings intense ultraviolet light, X-rays and charged particles that strike materials directly, hour after hour, year after year.
Ultraviolet radiation is especially destructive to fabrics, coatings, seals and plastics. High-energy photons break molecular bonds, causing fading, embrittlement, chalking and loss of flexibility. What starts as a tough, slightly rubbery component can become fragile enough to crack or crumble with minor stress.
Solar heating drives extreme temperature swings. Surfaces in direct light can soar above the boiling point of water, then plunge far below freezing during the long lunar night. This repeated expansion and contraction fatigues metals, loosens joints and can warp delicate assemblies or open microscopic pathways for further damage.
The Sun also powers chemical changes even in the near-vacuum. Photo-driven reactions alter surface layers of metals and composites, darkening some areas while making others more reflective. Over time, thin films and paints may peel or flake away.
Because there is no air, micrometeoroids and electrostatically charged dust add to the punishment. Sunlight helps loft fine particles that sandblast exposed equipment, scratching visors, abrading thermal blankets and grinding into mechanisms.
Evidence of these effects can already be seen in photographs of items left behind decades ago. Bright whites have dulled, fabrics look stiff and once-smooth surfaces appear pitted or powdery, revealing how relentless radiation slowly reshapes anything left unprotected.
For future missions and long-term bases, engineers plan multilayer shielding, UV-resistant materials, reflective coatings and storage strategies that limit direct exposure. Managing sunlight isn’t just about power generation it’s central to making technology survive on the lunar surface for years instead of months.