Lunar Power Supply, Power Needs, and Environmental Considerations

The availability of sufficient amounts of electrical power is critical to the safe operation of a lunar base. Most of the power will be required for habitats and laboratories and, at advanced stages, for production facilities, such as lunar oxygen plants. The total power requirement of a lunar base will depend on crew size, evolutionary stage, and mission objectives of the base. It can be assumed that a lunar base will grow in capacity and function over time, with a concurrent increase in power required. In the first part of this chapter, an overview of power supply system options is provided. The lunar environment also affects the design of lunar power systems. Many aspects of the lunar environment are highly location dependent, thus where a base is located is important. The primary lunar environment characteristics are summarized in the second part of this chapter, specifically: solar illumination, thermal, radiation, and dust considerations, as well as regolith properties and surface slopes. Power and thermal systems design are also driven by the power needs of a lunar base. Specific power needs for the different surface elements can vary broadly because there is a wide range of possible mission goals for each. Typical power needs are discussed and summarized in the third part of this chapter.