A human lunar outpost, under NASA study for construction in the 2020's, has potential requirements to transfer electric power up to 50‐kW across the lunar surface from 0.1 to 10‐km distances. This power would be used to operate surface payloads located remotely from the outpost and/or outpost primary power grid. This paper describes concept designs for state‐of‐the‐art technology power transfer subsystems including AC or DC power via cables, beamed radio frequency power and beamed laser power. Power transfer subsystem mass and performance are calculated and compared for each option. A simplified qualitative assessment of option operations, hazards, costs and technology needs is also described. Based on these concept designs and performance analyses, a DC power cabling subsystem is recommended to minimize subsystem mass and to minimize mission and programmatic costs and risks. Avenues for additional power transfer subsystem studies are recommended.
Lunar Surface‐to‐Surface Power Transfer
SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL FORUM‐STAIF 2008: 12th Conference on Thermophysics Applications in Microgravity; 1st Symposium on Space Resource Utilization; 25th Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion; 6th Conference on Human/Robotic Technology and the Vision for Space Exploration; 6th Symposium on Space Colonization; 5th Symposium on New Frontiers and Future Concept ; 2008 ; Albuquerque (New Mexico)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 969 , 1 ; 466-473
2008-01-21
8 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
NTRS
|Technologies for Lunar Surface Power Systems Power Beaming and Transfer
American Institute of Physics | 2008
|NASA Lunar Surface Power Approach
NTIS | 2023
|Lunar Surface Power Architecture Concepts
IEEE | 2023
|