Speaker
Description
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in both robotic and human missions to the Moon. This resurgence brings renewed focus to the thermal challenges of the Lunar surface environment, such as wide temperature fluctuations, risks associated with the lunar regolith, and especially at the poles, highly varying illumination conditions, characterized by prolonged lunar night.
First, several moon surface models of different complexities were established in ESATAN- TMS, including the radiative environment, the surface meshing definition and the regolith thermo-physical models. Furthermore, a simplified thermal model of a lunar lander descent module was established. Following this, several thermal design concepts, and hardware, for the "Passenger” element of lunar lander were considered. Various radiator configurations have been explored, as well as different techniques for achieving a variable thermal link, given the wide differences in day and night conditions. In this context, loop heap pipe with by-pass valve, thermal switches and variable conductance heat pipes were considered. In support of this analysis, an Excel-based tool for radiator sizing on the moon surface was also developed, enabling the assessment of radiator performance under a wide variety of conditions such as different latitudes, environmental conditions, different moon terrain and radiator inclinations, and different optical properties, including degradation due to lunar dust. Moreover, lunar dust effects on thermal hardware were also assessed, exploring different strategies to model the degradation due to lunar dust as well as its effects on thermal performance.
The selected approach for modelling the lunar environment as well as the selected thermal design solutions will be presented. Eventually, several best practices and lessons learned from the thermal modelling and design process will be shared, providing insights for future development of lunar lander thermal control systems.
