A critical review of the engineering properties of extraterrestrial regolith

Deep space exploration is the frontier of the development of humanity. Investigators worldwide have conducted extensive research on the engineering characteristics and mineralogical composition of surface materials on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, which have significant implications for future large-scale spacecraft soft landings and the construction of permanent bases. This work analyzes and summarizes a volume of previous findings on the engineering properties of the regolith of the Moon, Mars, and asteroid Ryugu, including the particle size distribution, bulk density, internal friction angle, cohesion, and presence of water ice. The methods used to obtain these properties are critically reviewed. We discuss their advantages and disadvantages and identify the potential new techniques that can be used to better constrain these engineering properties. This study can help researchers to understand the research progress on extraterrestrial regolith in the engineering properties, as well as prospective research directions in deep space exploration.