Continuous empowering with laser power transmission technologies for ISRU moon assets: CIRA approach

Abstract

Abstract. Due to the potential possibility of changing the dynamics of the New Space Economy, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) is acquiring more and more importance within the Space Exploration scenario. Indeed, the closest space missions will return humans to the Moon, while planning the long-term stay. This aspect opens the way to the need for employment and processing of local resources, with the aim of reducing the dependence on Earth-based resources, also ensuring the financial sustainability of the space exploration programs. ISRU technologies will demand for energy values likely to be in the Megawatt range and, eventually, at Gigawatt levels, to be ensured in the harsh hazardous environmental conditions of the celestial bodies (e.g. Moon, Mars, Near Earth Asteroids). This work, performed by the CIRA TEES Laboratory, provides the CIRA approach to the feasibility study concerning the Laser Power Transmission (LPT) technologies for Moon assets empowering. The aim is to evaluate whether LPT can be a potentially efficient solution for continuous power delivery from an orbiting source device, considering long-distance wireless employments and severe environmental conditions, to drive ISRU Moon assets (habitats, rovers, local industrial plants, conveyance facilities, et cetera). For the purpose of this study, starting from the space mission identification, an increasing complexity multi-step approach was properly conceived by CIRA to design the dedicated LPT system responding to the evaluated mission requirements.