NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Lunar Pole Illumination and Communications Maps Computed from GSSR Elevation DataA Digital Elevation Model of the lunar south pole was produced using Goldstone Solar System RADAR (GSSR) data obtained in 2006.12 This model has 40-meter horizontal resolution and about 5-meter relative vertical accuracy. This Digital Elevation Model was used to compute average solar illumination and Earth visibility with 100 kilometers of the lunar south pole. The elevation data were converted into local terrain horizon masks, then converted into lunar-centric latitude and longitude coordinates. The horizon masks were compared to latitude, longitude regions bounding the maximum Sun and Earth motions relative to the moon. Estimates of Earth visibility were computed by integrating the area of the region bounding the Earth's motion that was below the horizon mask. Solar illumination and other metrics were computed similarly. Proposed lunar south pole base sites were examined in detail, with the best site showing yearly solar power availability of 92 percent and Direct-To-Earth (DTE) communication availability of about 50 percent. Similar analysis of the lunar south pole used an older GSSR Digital Elevation Model with 600-meter horizontal resolution. The paper also explores using a heliostat to reduce the photovoltaic power system mass and complexity.
Document ID
20150014706
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Bryant, Scott
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 3, 2015
Publication Date
March 7, 2009
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Ground Support Systems And Facilities (Space)
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
IEEEAC Paper No. 1659
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2009 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2009
End Date: March 14, 2009
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
lunar base
horizon masks
DEM

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available