| Title: | Lunar nights survival |
| Material Type: | ISU Team Project report |
| Publisher: | Illkirch-Graffenstaden (France) : International Space University, 2018 |
| Size: | 1 electronic resource (xv, 89 p.) / col. ill. |
| Bibliography note: | Includes bibliographical references |
| Languages: | English |
| Class number: | TL873 |
| Subjects: | Lunar bases ; Manned mission ; Manned space flight--Systems engineering ; Moon--Exploration ; Nuclear power plants ; Photovoltaic power systems |
| Description: |
"Future lunar exploration will involve a combination of human and robotic elements engaging in a variety of activities: science and exploration, resource prospecting, space tourism, and preparing for future exploration of other planetary bodies. In an era of renewed interest in lunar exploration, spacefaring nations are evaluating missions that enable a sustained human presence on the Moon, commencing within the next decade. Reliable, scalable power generation and distribution systems will be the keystone in supporting such missions, especially those that require operation during lunar nights, in which the absence of direct sunlight and the extreme temperature variations create an exceptionally inhospitable environment. In these periods of darkness, temperatures may drop several hundred degrees Celsius within minutes of sunset, and subsequent electrostatic changes of the lunar regolith present additional complications.
Our solution, the Power Cell, is able to withstand these challenges and enables survival of lunar nights. It is based on space-proven power systems, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, batteries, and the newly demonstrated Kilopower fission technology. Kilopower is a compact fission reactor that can produce up to 10 kW of power for over ten years. Together these systems can provide reliable power for several astronauts." |
| Contents note: | 1.Introduction 2. Surviving the Lunar night 3. The power cell 4. Legal and business challenges and opportunities 5. Implementation considerations 6. Conclusions |
| ISU program : | Space Studies Program |
| Permalink: | https://isulibrary.isunet.edu/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=10463 |
Read online (2)
 2018_Lunar_Executive summary (10MB) Adobe Acrobat PDF | 2018_Lunar_Full report (8.63MB) Adobe Acrobat PDF |
