Flow-Field Overlap Method for Lunar Ice-Soil Simulant

The preparation of water-bearing regolith analogues supports laboratory investigations relevant to lunar polar exploration. This study investigates a flow-field overlap method in which mechanically agitated regolith particles are exposed to water vapor under low-temperature conditions. Four independent preparation runs were conducted at a target water content of 0.5 wt%. Oven-drying gravimetric measurements at ten sampling positions within each batch yielded mean water contents of 0.5072, 0.4981, 0.5444, and 0.5234 wt%, with within-batch standard deviations ranging from 0.0510 to 0.0658 wt%. Cryo-electron microscopy provided qualitative observations of particle-surface features interpreted as deposited ice. These measurements characterize the water contents and variability of the samples obtained under the tested conditions. The results provide an initial assessment of the preparation method at a target water content of 0.5 wt%. Performance at higher target water contents and suitability for infrared-sensor calibration require further experimental evaluation.