LUNAR ROVER DESIGN EXAMPLE PROPOSAL Demo: To provide laser-beamed power from an SPS in lunar orbit to a scientific rover on the lunar surface. More specifically, might be possible to provide power for one of the two anticipated rovers of the NASA Artemis mission, scheduled for launch in 1997. Purpose: For SSPP, to demonstrate power beaming over large distances and to remote areas; also, another purpose would be to support a mission that may help to establish a lunar base, the resources from which could then be used to facilitate large-scale production of SSPP. For Artemis, to provide power for up to one full year, as opposed to current estimates of a power-limited rover lifetime of 1 or 2 lunar days. For other, larger rovers, the purpose may be to provide continuous power at lower weight for the rover and also to provide power to rovers operating in permanently shadowed craters near the poles. Target Cost: $500 Million for Artemis, $1-2 Billion for larger rovers. Timescale: 5 years for Artemis, 10 years for larger rovers. Power Level: An Artemis rover is only planned to be about 30kg in size and would only need a few hundred watts of power, larger rovers may require a kilowatt or more. The satellite would probably have to transmit at least 2-3 times the power needed by the rover. Orbit: We've come up with two scenarios: place the satellite at Li, and restrict the rover to the near side, or place the satellite in low lunar orbit (at about 300 km), and have the rover zigzag across the projected path of the satellite. The former scenario allows for continuous beaming, while the latter requires the rover to be able to use bursts of laser energy to recharge its batteries for up to two hours or so. Organization: The Artemis option would obviously have to be conducted with NASA, powering other rovers could be done through other agencies.
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