Characterization of Lunar Polar Illumination from a Power System Perspective
Open accessAbstract
This paper presents the results of illumination analyses for the lunar south and north pole regions obtained using an independently developed analytical tool and two types of digital elevation models (DEM). One DEM was based on radar height data from Earth observations of the lunar surface and the other was a combination of the radar data with a separate dataset generated using Clementine spacecraft stereo imagery. The analysis tool enables the assessment of illumination at most locations in the lunar polar regions for any time and any year. Maps are presented for both lunar poles for the worst case winter period (the critical power system design and planning bottleneck) and for the more favorable best case summer period. Average illumination maps are presented to help understand general topographic trends over the regions. Energy storage duration maps are presented to assist in power system design. Average illumination fraction, energy storage duration, solar/horizon terrain elevation profiles and illumination fraction profiles are presented for favorable lunar north and south pole sites which have the potential for manned or unmanned spacecraft operations. The format of the data is oriented for use by power system designers to develop mass optimized solar and energy storage systems.
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Some sites near the Shackleton crater have continuous illumination of about six months and frequent illumination-darkness periods for another six months, with continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours.
“Some of the sites near the Shackleton crater are identified to have a continuous illumination of about six months and frequent illumination-darkness periods for another six months [22] with continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours [21], [22].”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
The Introduction (page not available) says polar illumination can be nearly continuous for a number of months and variable for the remaining months, but does not specify six months of continuous illumination near Shackleton. The Analysis Results: Illumination Profiles section (page not available) gives a 71-hour energy-storage duration for a Shackleton-rim site, but does not establish the claimed 71–120-hour range of continuous eclipses. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLow 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 [21]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says low Sun elevation angles and high, shadow-casting terrain at various distances shape illumination near the lunar poles. The Ancillary Shadowing Information section (page unavailable) also identifies terrain shadowing a polar site. Our copy does not establish that the shadows themselves extend kilometers; its kilometer measurements describe terrain heights, not shadow lengths. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIncreasing tower height to 1500 m and 3000 m near the lunar North and South pole, respectively, can eliminate the need for ESSs.
“It is shown that increasing the tower height to 1500 m and 3000 m near the lunar North and South pole, respectively, can eliminate the need for ESSs [21].”
From Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater (2023) · cites this paper as [21]
The Analysis Results section on tower heights and site linkages says Figure 44 examines how tower height affects energy-storage duration at two north-pole sites. It directs readers to Reference 1 for south-pole tower results. Our copy does not state that 1500 m and 3000 m towers eliminate the need for energy storage at the respective poles. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe ESS operation duration can be further reduced by 0.2hr/m with increasing the tower's height up to 300m.
“The ESS operation duration can be further reduced by 0.2hr/m with increasing the tower's height up to 300m.”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
The 'Effect of Tower Heights and Site Linkages' section and Figure 44 caption say the paper examines how tower height affects energy-storage duration at two north-pole sites. Our copy does not state a reduction of 0.2 hr/m or establish that it applies up to 300 m, so the claimed rate and range are unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA 1500m-tower near the lunar North Pole may eliminate the ESS requirement.
“A 1500m-tower near the lunar North Pole may eliminate the ESS requirement.”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
The section “Analysis Results: Effect of Tower Heights and Site Linkages” (page not available in our copy) examines how tower height affects illumination and energy-storage duration at two north-pole sites. The available text does not specify a 1500 m tower or say that it could eliminate the energy-storage requirement. (LLM, conf=0.81)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Installing a 100m-tower at a suitable location near the lunar North Pole reduces the ESS size by 4%.
“It is theoretically calculated that installing a 100m-tower at a suitable location near the lunar North Pole reduces the ESS size by 4%.”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
The ‘Effect of Tower Heights and Site Linkages’ section says the paper assesses towers of various heights at north-pole sites, and Figure 44 is captioned as showing their effect on energy-storage duration. The text in our copy does not establish that a 100 m tower reduces ESS size by 4%; energy-storage duration is not itself a reported ESS-size reduction. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredContinuous eclipse times near the Shackleton crater vary from 71 to 120 hours.
“while continuous eclipse times varying from 71 to 120 hours [12], [13].”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
In “Analysis Results: Illumination Profiles for North and South Pole Sites” (page unavailable), the paper reports a 71-hour energy-storage duration for a Shackleton crater rim site using the radar terrain model. The “Maps” section says the fast-recharge measure approximates the longest continuous shadow period. Our copy does not report a 120-hour endpoint for this claim, so it does not support the stated range. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHigh 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 [21]
Near the lunar South Pole, a 3000m-tower is required to eliminate the need for ESSs.
“A different scenario exists near the lunar South Pole, requiring a 3000m-tower to eliminate the need for ESSs [13].”
From Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
The Analysis Results: Effect of Tower Heights and Site Linkages section examines tower heights at north-pole sites and says another reference discusses south-pole towers. Our copy does not state that a 3000 m tower is required near the south pole or that it would eliminate the need for energy storage; searches for “3000” and a 3 km south-pole tower did not find that result. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Cites
26th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
(1994) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/0012-821x(94)90131-7 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
Topography of the Lunar Poles from Radar Interferometry: A Survey of Cold Trap Locations
Margot, J., Campbell, D. B., JURGENS, R. F., & Slade, M. A. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.284.5420.1658 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Illumination conditions at the lunar South Pole
Bussey, D. B. J., Spudis, P. D., & Robinson, M. S. (1999) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/1999gl900213 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
35th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
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Digital elevation models of the Moon from Earth-based radar interferometry
Margot, J., Campbell, D. B., JURGENS, R. F., et al. (2000) · IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing · doi:10.1109/36.841991 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
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Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 8
- [1]1. Fincannon, H.J., "Lunar South Pole Illumination: Review, Reassessment and Power System Implications," 5th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, AIAA-2007-4700, Jun. 2007.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Space Microgrids for Future Manned Lunar Bases: A Review
Saha, D., Bazmohammadi, N., Raya-Armenta, J. M., Bintoudi, A. D., Lashab, A., Vasquez, J. C., & Guerrero, J. M. (2021) · IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy · doi:10.1109/oajpe.2021.3116674 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Optimal Sizing and Siting of PV and Battery Based Space Microgrids Near the Moon’s Shackleton Crater
Saha, D., Bazmohammadi, N., Raya-Armenta, J. M., Bintoudi, A. D., Lashab, A., Vasquez, J. C., & Guerrero, J. M. (2023) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2023.3239303 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“Energy storage systems (ESSs) are also necessary to supply the loads during eclipses and nighttimes.”
BackgroundInfluentialAnalysis of Stationary, Photovoltaic-Based Surface Power System Designs at the Lunar South Pole
Freeh, J. (2008) · AIAA SPACE 2008 Conference & Exposition · doi:10.2514/6.2008-7810 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
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
- 46th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
- Published
- 2008-01-07
- OpenAlex
- W2048298573
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 7.16
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit (publishedVersion)
- NASA STI Repository (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (submittedVersion)
- 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 south pole, digital elevation model, radar altimetry, photovoltaic system design, space power systems
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