Analysis of different solar energy acquisition systems for applications in the Moon

Abstract

The big challenge of the NASA and space agencies for years to come is to return to the Moon to build a base of research there. This return to the Moon stays only a stage before the purpose of the big space agencies: the planet Mars. Indeed, the Moon presents an advantage of size for the launch of spaceships: its low gravity, which is only of the sixth of that of the Earth, facilitates largely the sending of rockets in the space. The principle problem to create a base on the moon is to produce enough energy while the sun is shining, in order to live in the period of darkness (known as lunar night). The main possible technique to produce electricity in the Moon is the solar energy. We know, from a previous study that the preferable method is the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, which can run a heat engine during the lunar night to produce electricity. When the sun is shining on the Moon's surface, the system can run the engine directly using the solar energy and, simultaneously, heat a thermal mass. This thermal mass will be used as a high temperature source to run the heat engine during periods of darkness.