Electrical Power Systems for Lunar and Space Exploration

This hands-on reference book covers the development and design of electrical power systems for lunar and space exploration. It focuses on the equipment of manned space flight missions to the moon and the equipment of the lunar base itself, using the example of the Artemis program, the current moon exploration program led by NASA. The practical guide is mainly aimed at space engineers, but is also suitable for students of aerospace engineering.

The book starts off with an introduction to lunar exploration and the Artemis Program – from general mission topologies over planned missions within the Artemis-Program to scheduled technical systems. It then explains spacecraft electrical power systems, such as power distribution systems, energy generation, storage systems and grounding concepts, and moves on to an overview of space power technologies, particularly with regard to a lunar base. These lunar electrical power systems consist of subsystems, such as photovoltaics, nuclear generators, battery storages, regenerative fuel cells, power regulators and converters, power switches and DC systems. The author provides important technical background information for these subsystems. Furthermore, he shows methods of designing electrical power systems and subsystems for lunar applications. In addition, he includes an analysis of the electrical power system of the International Space Station (ISS) as a design reference, as well as an overview of different studies focusing on lunar base electrical power systems. To wrap it up, he presents an overview of technical standards and requirements as well as important documents for space systems.

Author Biography

Jan-Henrik Zünkler, M.Sc., studied industrial engineering and electrical engineering and is currently doing his doctorate in electrical engineering at the Institute for Sustainable Energy Concepts (NEK) at the University of Paderborn. During his master’s studies, he joined the Think Tank Spaceship EAC at the European Astronaut Centre for a project and developed a new sensor system for the exploration of the lunar surface. After this project, he continued to work together with the EAC as a visiting researcher and developed a new software for the simulation of electrical power systems in lunar and space missions for his master’s thesis and doctorate.