Lunar South Pole Illumination: Review, Reassessment, and Power System Implications
Abstract
This paper reviews past analyses and research related to lunar south pole illumination and presents results of independent illumination analyses using an analytical tool and a radar digital elevation model. The analysis tool enables assessment at most locations near the lunar poles for any time and any year. Average illumination fraction, energy storage duration, solar/horizon terrain elevation profiles and illumination fraction profiles are presented for various highly illuminated sites which have been identified for manned or unmanned operations. The format of the data can be used by power system designers to develop mass optimized solar and energy storage systems. Data are presented for the worse case lunar day (a critical power planning bottleneck) as well as three lunar days during lunar south pole winter. The main site under consideration by present lunar mission planners (on the Crater Shackleton rim) is shown to have, for the worse case lunar day, a 0.71 average illumination fraction and 73 to 117 hours required for energy storage (depending on power system type). Linking other sites and including towers at either site are shown to not completely eliminate the need for energy storage.
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High terrain and low solar elevation angle near the lunar polar regions create long shadows and obstruct solar energy availability.
“Besides, although the average illumination gives an approximation of the solar availability, the high terrain and low solar elevation angle near the lunar polar regions create long shadows [21], [26] and obstruct the solar energy availability.”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [26]
Low solar elevation angles and high terrain in lunar polar regions create long shadows in the range of kilometers, affecting solar illumination on polar sites.
“The low solar elevation angles in the lunar polar regions and the high terrain create long shadows (in the range of kilometers) [21], [26], affecting the solar illumination on the polar sites.”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [26]
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Barker, M. K., Mazarico, E., Neumann, G. A., Smith, D. E., Zuber, M. T., & Head, J. W. (2021) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2020.105119 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
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Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater
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“shadows [21], [26] and obstruct the solar energy availability.”
BackgroundAnalysis of Stationary, Photovoltaic-Based Surface Power System Designs at the Lunar South Pole
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Raya Armenta, J. M., Bazmohammadi, N., Saha, D., Vasquez, J. C., & Guerrero, J. M. (2023) · Advances in Space Research · doi:10.1016/j.asr.2022.12.048 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
- Authors
- Fincannon, J.
- Affiliations
- Glenn Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fincannon, James
- Venue
- 5th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit (IECEC)
- Published
- 2007-06-18
- OpenAlex
- W1999781678
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 11.49
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- AIAA International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC) (publishedVersion)
- NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
- NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft Dynamics and Control
- Keywords
- lunar power systems, Shackleton crater, lunar day, solar energy, lunar base, power system design
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