Lunar Articulating Mirror Array

Blueshift, LLC d/b/a Outward Technologies proposes to continue development of a Lunar Articulating Mirror Array (LAMA) for enabling lunar surface construction of large-scale infrastructure. The technology utilizes concentrated solar power to heat lunar regolith at a distance of meters to tens of meters from the mirror array. The configuration of the design allows for precise control over the solar flux and solar flux density delivered to the target surface. Phase I demonstrated feasibility of this technology through fabrication, assembly, and control of a physical prototype demonstrating the translation of a spot of highly concentrated solar energy across a receiver surface; ray tracing models matched to Phase I prototype results confirming validity of these models; extension of the ray tracing models to mid- to large-scale LAMA systems for solar conditions found on the Moon; generation of selectively solar melted and liquid-phase sintered surfaces of a lunar highlands regolith simulant; evaluation of performance of selectively solar melted surfaces for bearing loads equivalent to those that would be imposed by a lander footpad; and evaluation of reducing ejecta from selectively solar sintered regolith surfaces when exposed to a simulated plume-surface interaction. These efforts will be extended in Phase II to develop a medium-fidelity LAMA prototype and evaluate its performance in a relevant test environment to advance the TRL from 4 to 5. Selectively solar melted and sintered regolith surfaces will be produced in air and in vacuum conditions. Specimens generated from selective solar melting will be exposed in controlled thermal pulse tests representing impingement by superheated gases from an 80 ton lunar lander. Plume-surface interactions of selective solar sintered surfaces will be explored in vacuum conditions. Finally, a demonstration Landing/Launch Pad measuring 1m in diameter will be evaluated through multiple hot-fire tests from a large solid rocket motor. The Lunar Articulating Mirror Array (LAMA) enables fabrication of pressurized and unpressurized structures on the Moon including landing/launch pads, roads, blast shields, and habitats using lunar regolith as the exclusive feedstock. No additional binders are required. This is achieved through a unique solar Fresnel reflector for translating a concentrated solar spot across a regolith surface at a distance of meters to tens of meters. The system has low electrical power requirements by relying on solar-thermal energy to fuse regolith through selective solar melting and liquid-phase sintering. Materials range from a consolidated glass-ceramic with high strength to lightly sintered regolith to limit ejecta. These capabilities are enabled through a lightweight design requiring minimal to no regolith handling for single-layer structures. The optics remain distanced from the site to avoid damage from dust and nearby surface operations. LAMA marks a significant advancement over CSOTA for large solar concentrators and represents a game-changing technology for lunar surface construction. The primary Phase II objectives include: 1) Build, test, and characterize a medium-fidelity LAMA prototype 2) Produce selectively solar melted and liquid-phase sintered regolith specimens in vacuum 3) Evaluate solar melted and sintered specimens as candidate Landing/Launch Pad (LLP) and apron materials. Determine strength, resistance to thermal shocks, and reduction of ejecta in a relevant vacuum environment 4) Develop ray tracing model of full-scale LAMA systems to establish scaling requirements and estimate construction rates 5) Establish non-destructive evaluation methods for qualifying structures produced by LAMA 6) Quantify maintenance schedules and estimate operational life in a harsh lunar environment 7) Perform system design study of CLPS demonstration payload consisting of a mid-scale LAMA system 8) Fabricate a regolith LLP and apron using medium-fidelity LAMA prototype. Expose LLP and apron to multiple hot-fire tests to observe for melting, spalling, cracking, or other damage to the structure Proposed deliverables include written reports documenting progress. Proposed efforts will bring TRL from 4 to 5 by documenting test performance of a medium fidelity system prototype in a simulated operational environment with realistic support elements. Scaling requirements will further be documented to establish feasibility of LAMA as a robust construction system for the Moon.
Benefits: NASA applications include construction of large horizontal structures, layer-wise additive construction, treatment of regolith surfaces to minimize ejecta from PSI's, and solar-thermal power generation on the lunar surface. These capabilities primarily address technology taxonomy areas TX12, TX12.X, TX03.3, and TX07.1. Through continued funding and development, LAMA will provide a robust construction tool for addressing NASA's needs for establishing permanent lunar infrastructure while relying on abundant solar-thermal power and ISRU materials. Potential non-NASA applications include: increased pointing accuracy of heliostat fields for higher efficiency concentrated solar-thermal power plants on Earth; improved design of heliostat geometries to enable higher temperature solar-thermal reactors for industrial decarbonization; and In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) in low-Earth orbit for DoD and commercial customers.