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Lighting Condition Analysis for Mars' Moon PhobosThis study used high fidelity computer simulation to investigate the lighting conditions, specifically the solar radiation flux over the surface, on Phobos. Ephemeris data from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) DE405 model was used to model the state of the Sun, Earth, Moon, and Mars. An occultation model was developed to simulate Phobos' self-shadowing and its solar eclipses by Mars. The propagated Phobos state was compared with data from JPL's Horizon system to ensure the accuracy of the result. Results for Phobos lighting conditions over one Martian year are presented, which include the duration of solar eclipses, average solar radiation intensity, surface exposure time, available energy per unit area for sun tracking arrays, and available energy per unit area for fixed arrays (constrained by incident angle). The results show that: Phobos' solar eclipse time varies throughout the Martian year, with longer eclipse durations during the Martian spring and fall seasons and no eclipses during the Martian summer and winter seasons; solar radiation intensity is close to minimum at the summer solstice and close to maximum at the winter solstice; exposure time per orbit is relatively constant over the surface during the spring and fall but varies with latitude during the summer and winter; and Sun tracking solar arrays generate more energy than a fixed solar array. A usage example of the result is also present in this paper to demonstrate the utility.
Document ID
20150019633
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Li, Zu Qun
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
de Carufel, Guy
(Odyssey Space Research, LLC Houston, TX, United States)
Crues, Edwin Z.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bielski, Paul
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
October 22, 2015
Publication Date
March 5, 2016
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Solar Physics
Energy Production And Conversion
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-34575
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 5, 2016
End Date: March 12, 2016
Sponsors: PHM Society, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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