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Cryogenically-Operable Electronics for Surviving the Lunar NightCurrent solar-powered robotic lunar landers and rovers have not demonstrated survivability of the extreme cold temperatures seen during the 354-hour lunar night. To address this capability gap, we have been investigating the feasibility of a passive hibernation approach to enable low-cost solar- and battery-powered missions to operate over multiple lunar cycles. This strategy relies on isolating the batteries from the main bus during the lunar night and allowing cells to freeze as temperatures descend as low as 50K. The entire power architecture remains in a hibernation state with no electrical activity until lunar dawn. When the sun returns over the horizon, the now-illuminated solar arrays begin generating power. In order to manage the array power, architecture consisting of cryogenically-operable COTS electronics must be utilized. This architecture will distribute and control power to subsystems - importantly controlling heaters to bring the frozen lithium-ion battery cells to normal operating conditions. This alternative approach to lunar operations will enable low-cost commercial lunar landers and payloads to passively survive the night and continue to operate over multiple lunar cycles without a significant impact to cost or payload mass.

Research last year focused on creating a power supply that was capable of operation at cryogenic temperatures. At the end of FY23, our team successfully designed and manufactured a Sequential Switching Shunt Regulator (S3R) that is operational in a cryogenic vacuum chamber. It is capable of full operation down to the coldest lunar night temperatures (~50K). Our presentation will provide an overview of the Lunar Hibernation strategy but will focus mainly on the technical details of this cryogenically-operable shunt regulator and test results.
Document ID
20240004406
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Nicholas R Uguccini
(Glenn Research Center Cleveland, United States)
Richard C Oeftering
(Glenn Research Center Cleveland, United States)
Thomas B Miller
(Glenn Research Center Cleveland, United States)
Brian A Holler
(Glenn Research Center Cleveland, United States)
Date Acquired
April 12, 2024
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion and Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Power Workshop 2024
Location: Torrance, CA
Country: US
Start Date: April 23, 2024
End Date: April 25, 2024
Sponsors: The Aerospace Corporation
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 954879.06.03.03.22
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
Keywords
Cryogenic
Electronics
Lunar surface
Solar
Lithium-ion
Spacecraft power
Hibernation
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