NASA challenge searches for a solar-powered 'Night Rover'
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 17th 2010 7:49PM
posted August 17th 2010 7:49PM
NASA regularly opens up challenges to foster development of new and exciting space technology, and it looks like it's come up with a particularly challenging one recently -- it's asking interested parties to develop a solar-powered "Night Rover" that can store up enough energy during the day to continue to work throughout the night. That's as opposed to the more recent crop of rovers that must do most of their work during the day, which NASA says forces them to pick and choose what tasks the rovers perform, thereby greatly reducing the chance for discoveries. It also notes that simply adding more batteries isn't an option, since every tiny weight increase significantly adds to the cost of sending something into space. Think you've got what it takes? There's a $1.5 million dollar prize in store for the winner.
>It also notes that simply adding more batteries isn't an option
So they are saying more efficient batteries?
Note The lunar night is two weeks long.
A better plan would be to have two rovers on opposite sides of the moon and just rove one of them at a time.
i.e. have them shut-down during the night.
I'd like to see them put 5+ Robonaut 2 type robots (with a rove base) and a couple robotic bobcat loaders on the moon and have them build/maintain a small robotic "moon base". (i.e. spare parts to repair themselves and several solar arrays and power storage devices).
The long term goal being to have them build a large underground human moon base.
Nasa is not interested in being fair to anyone who can solve their difficulties. Their people grab whatever comes in and then they run off and bury as their own like Ravens grabbing silverware. Still, NASA is OUR Nasa, even if knaves are in charge.
A pop-up wind generator, even a small one, would certainly improve operating efficiency. It's certainly an easy and lightweight solution.
@TogetherinParis
Except for the lack of wind on the moon.
ok
I dont know the specifications, but I would operate it like a Mars Rover with a Station. During the day the Station would charge up batteries or fuel cells. When it starts to get cold the rover charges up its capacitors. During the night the rover would operate then with the energy stored in its capacitors. With temperatures around 70K during the night capacitors are the option to go for and besides they are much lighter than batteries. You could even think of utilizing High Temperature Super Conductors (HTSCs) since 70K during the night is enough for some HTSCs.
Since the Sidereal Rotation Period is 27 days I think this is a really challenging project if the goal is to operate this rover for the full 27 (earth-)days of night
Now it can be told.
On February 7, 2021, a race will begin near the equator of the Moon, heading east from the terminator, all the way around. The prize: $10 million ($6 million in today's money). The Great Lunar Race.
This vehicle is just a proof of concept for that eventual race.
yooooooooooo
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