JSC tests lunar solar technology in thermal vacuum chamber

JSC tests lunar solar technology in thermal vacuum chamber
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 21, 2024

Designing technology to endure the Moon's harsh environment for up to a decade is a critical task for NASA's Artemis missions. To meet this challenge, three companies have been selected to develop self-sustaining solar array systems that will supply continuous energy at the lunar South Pole.

In 2022, NASA awarded contracts to these companies to create and test their designs at Johnson Space Center's Space Environment Simulation Laboratory (SESL) in Houston. Testing has been conducted in the facility's Chamber A, located in building 32, to verify that these technologies can function effectively in the Moon's extreme conditions.

Honeybee Robotics, a Blue Origin company from Altadena, California, and Astrobotic Technology from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tested their solar array prototypes in the summer of 2024. Each design focuses on unique strategies to ensure deployment, operational stability, and resilience under the Moon's extreme temperature fluctuations. Data collected during these evaluations will guide improvements to refine these technologies for eventual deployment near the lunar South Pole.

These efforts are part of NASA's Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) project, an initiative under the Space Technology Mission Directorate's Game Changing Development program. Managed by Langley Research Center in Virginia and supported by Glenn Research Center in Ohio, the project aims to develop durable energy systems to support extended lunar surface operations.

"We foresee the Moon as a hub for manufacturing satellites and hardware, leveraging the energy required to launch from the lunar surface," said Jim Burgess, VSAT lead systems engineer. "This vision could revolutionize space exploration and industry."

SESL, established in 1965, originally supported the Gemini and Apollo missions. Over the decades, it has adapted to test systems for missions like the Space Shuttle Program, Mars rovers, and the James Webb Space Telescope. Today, it remains pivotal to preparing for future Artemis missions and beyond.

"Testing these prototypes will help ensure more safe and reliable space mission technologies," said Chuck Taylor, VSAT project manager. "The goal is to create a self-sustaining system that can support lunar exploration and beyond, making our presence on the Moon not just feasible but sustainable."

The lunar power systems must be adaptable, autonomous, and robust. They will manage power outages, maintain operations during the 96-hour-long lunar night, and interact seamlessly with habitats and rovers. To achieve this, the systems must deploy on uneven surfaces, extend up to 32 feet high to access sunlight, and retract for relocation as needed.

Chamber A at SESL, one of the largest thermal vacuum chambers of its kind, can replicate deep space temperature conditions down to 20 Kelvin. This capability is vital for testing how technologies respond to the Moon's severe environment.

"The SESL is just one of the hundreds of unique capabilities that we have here at Johnson," said Molly Bannon, Johnson's Innovation and Strategy specialist. "The Front Door provides a clear understanding of all our capabilities and services, the ways in which our partners can access them, and how to contact us. We know that we can go further together with all our partners across the entire space ecosystem if we bring everyone together as the hub of human spaceflight."

These lunar solar technologies represent an important step in NASA's vision of creating a sustainable human presence on the Moon. "Generating power on the Moon involves numerous lessons and constant learning," Taylor explained. "While this might seem like a technical challenge, it's an exciting frontier that combines known technologies with innovative solutions to navigate lunar conditions and build a dynamic and robust energy network on the Moon."