| Title: | Lunar payload thermal analysis with Thermica |
| Authors: | Stephanie Rocha, Author |
| Material Type: | ISU MSS year B |
| Publisher: | Illkirch-Graffenstaden (France) : International Space University, 2021 |
| Format: | 1 online resource (115 p.) / col. ill. |
| Bibliography note: | Includes bibliographical references |
| Languages: | English |
| Description: |
This thesis reports work conducted of the thermal analysis of a 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm Lunar Plant Growth Experiment (LPX) placed on the South side of the Moon during the second quarter of 2024. The thermal analysis is conducted with the Systema Thermica modeling software courtesy of Airbus Defense and Space. The report details the thermal analysis process with a step by step explanation. The project was suggested by Dr. Chris McKay as part of a request for information (RFI) as part of the Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) call from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This report provides a literature review with respect to the Arabidopsis plants. This type of plant is used as a basis of the temperature settings in mind for the LPX. A step by step section is included on how Thermica can be used for lunar simulations. The thesis then focuses on demonstrating how Thermica was used for the LPX and the results are discussed in the final section. This thesis serves as a complete document for future plant based lunar missions, or any lunar environment simulations, using Thermica.
The thermal analysis results proved that the LPX has a limited time frame with the ideal temperature conditions for the Arabidopsis plants when placed at the location of the Schrödinger Basin [75°S, 132.4°W, lunar far side]. The results of the thermal simulations include the Moon’s infrared (IR) direct flux, the Moon’s IR absorbed flux, the Moon’s albedo direct flux, the Moon’s absorbed flux, the absorbed solar flux, and the temperature for each side of the LPX. All the simulation results were then graphed for visual representation of the quantitative data collected. The results of the thermal simulations are summarized by providing the numerical data collected of the Moon’s infrared (IR) direct flux, the Moon’s IR absorbed flux, the Moon’s albedo direct flux, the Moon’s absorbed flux, the absorbed solar flux, and the temperature for each side of the LPX. Multiple graphs are introduced to provide a visual representation of the thermal environment observed by the simulations. This thesis concludes with the identification of one possible time frame in which the temperature is between 0 °C and 50 °C. This might offer a viable solution to the requested 10 °C to 30 °C growth temperature for the Arabidopsis plant |
| ISU program : | Master of Space Studies |
| Permalink: | https://isulibrary.isunet.edu/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=11568 |
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 Rocha, Stephanie_YEARB thesis (8.94 MB) Adobe Acrobat PDF |
