Orbital Power Beaming to Provide Increased Mobility, Flexibility, and Science Measurements on the Lunar Surface

One of the biggest challenges facing the expansion of lunar surface exploration is access to a reliable power source for purposes of surviving lunar night, exploring permanently shadowed regions, and achieving long traverses. Landers and rovers are currently limited in their range, performance, and lifetime due to power constraints. The concept of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) provides an attractive alternative solution to the power needs of lunar surface missions. The Orbital Power-Beaming Assets for Lunar Applications (OPAL) project seeks to develop a concept for a flexible orbit-to-surface power beaming architecture with a power-tunable and focusable optical power beaming system that will accommodate the needs of future lunar surface assets – or clients herein.