In less than three years, astronauts will return to the moon for the first time since the Apollo Era. As part of the Artemis program, the goal is not just to send manned missions back to the lunar surface to explore and collect evidence.
This time, there is also the goal of establishing a vital infrastructure (such as the Lunar Gate and a base camp) that allows for “sustained lunar exploration”.
A key requirement for this ambitious plan is energy supply, which can be difficult in regions such as the South Pole-Aitken Basin – a cratered region that is permanently shaded.
To address this, a researcher at NASA Langley Research Center named Charles Taylor proposed a new concept known as the “Light Bender”. Using the telescope’s optics, this system would capture and distribute sunlight on the moon.
The Light Bender concept was one of 16 proposals selected for Phase I of the 2021 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, which is overseen by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD).
As with previous NIAC presentations, those proposals that have been selected represent a wide range of innovative ideas that could help advance NASA’s space exploration goals.
In this case, the Light Bender proposal meets the needs of the astronauts who will be part of the Artemis missions and the “Long-term human lunar surface presence” that will follow.
The design for Taylor’s concept was inspired by the heliostat, a device that adjusts to compensate for the apparent movement of the Sun in the sky so as to keep the sun’s reflection on a target.
In the case of the Light Bender, the optics of the Cassegrain telescope are used to capture, focus and focus sunlight, while a Fresnel lens is used to align light beams to be distributed to multiple sources at distances of 1 kilometer (0 , 62 miles) or more. This light is then received by photovoltaic grids with a diameter of 2 to 4 meters (~ 6.5 to 13 feet) that convert sunlight into electricity.
In addition to habitats, Light Bender is able to supply power to cryo cooling units and mobile assets such as rovers.
This type of matrix could also play an important role in creating vital infrastructure, providing energy to on-site resource utilization (ISRU) elements, such as vehicles that collect local regulations for use in printer modules. D (which will use it to build surface structures).
As Taylor described it in his NIAC Phase I proposal statement: “This concept is superior to alternatives, such as highly inefficient laser power transmission, as it converts light into electricity once and traditional distribution architectures. energy, which is based on large cables. The Light Bender proposal is a ~ 5x mass reduction compared to traditional technological solutions, such as Laser Power Beaming or a distribution network based on high voltage power cables. “
But perhaps the biggest attraction to such a system is how it can distribute power systems to permanently shaded craters on the Moon’s surface, which are common in the moon’s southern polar region.
In the coming years, several space agencies – including NASA, ESA, Roscomos and the China National Space Agency (CNSA) – hope to create long-term habitats in the area due to the presence of water ice and other resources.
The power level provided by the system is also comparable to the Kilopower concept, a proposed nuclear fission energy system designed to allow long-term stays on the Moon and other bodies.
This system will provide a power capacity of 10 electric kilowatts (kWe) – the equivalent of one thousand watts of electrical capacity.
“In the original design, the primary mirror captures the equivalent of almost 48 kWe of sunlight,” writes Taylor. “The electrical power of the end user depends on the distance from the primary collection point, but analyzes behind the envelope suggest that at least 9kWe of continuous power will be available within 1 km.”
In addition, Taylor points out that the total amount of energy the system can generate is scalable.
Basically, it can be increased by simply changing the size of the primary collection element, the size of the receiver elements, the distance between the nodes or by simply increasing the total number of solar collectors on the surface. As time passes and more infrastructure is added in a region, the system can be scaled to adapt.
As with all proposals that were selected for Phase I of the NIAC 2021 program, Taylor’s concept will receive a NASA grant of up to $ 125,000.
All Phase I fellows are now in an initial nine-month feasibility study period, in which designers will assess various aspects of their projects and address predictable issues that could impact operations on concepts once they operate in the South Pole basin of Aitken.
In particular, Taylor will focus on how the optical lens could be enhanced based on different models, materials and coatings that would lead to acceptable levels of light propagation.
It will also assess how the target could be designed in such a way that it can run autonomously once it reaches the lunar surface. Possible methods for autonomous development will be the subject of further studies.
Following the design / feasibility study, an assessment of the architectural alternatives for Light Bender will be performed in the context of a monthly base located near the South Pole of the Moon during sustained lunar surface operations.
The main figure of merit will be the minimization of the land mass. Comparisons will be made with known power distribution technologies, such as cables and laser beams.
Upon completion of these feasibility studies, Light Bender and other Phase I fellows will be able to apply for Phase II awards. Jenn Gustetic, director of innovation and early-stage partnerships at NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), said:
“It is known that NIAC fellows dream big, proposing technologies that may seem on the edge of science fiction and are not unlike research funded by other agency programs. We do not expect all of this to happen, but we recognize that providing a small amount of seed – funding for early research could bring long-term benefits to NASA. “
This article was originally published by Universe Today. Read the original article.