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Power System Trade Studies for the Lunar Surface Access ModuleA Lunar Lander Preparatory Study (LLPS) was undertaken for NASA's Lunar Lander Pre-Project in 2006 to explore a wide breadth of conceptual lunar lander designs. Civil servant teams from nearly every NASA center responded with dozens of innovative designs that addressed one or more specific lander technical challenges. Although none of the conceptual lander designs sought to solve every technical design issue, each added significantly to the technical database available to the Lunar Lander Project Office as it began operations in 2007. As part of the LLPS, a first order analysis was performed to identify candidate power systems for the ascent and descent stages of the Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM). A power profile by mission phase was established based on LSAM subsystem power requirements. Using this power profile, battery and fuel cell systems were modeled to determine overall mass and volume. Fuel cell systems were chosen for both the descent and ascent stages due to their low mass. While fuel cells looked promising based on these initial results, several areas have been identified for further investigation in subsequent studies, including the identification and incorporation of peak power requirements into the analysis, refinement of the fuel cell models to improve fidelity and incorporate ongoing technology developments, and broadening the study to include solar power.
Document ID
20080022419
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Kohout, Lisa, L.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 2008
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
E-16424
NASA/TM-2008-215179
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 182306.06.01.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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