Solar cell development on the surface of Moon from in-situ lunar resources

Abstract

The use of the indigenous resources of the Moon can result in the development of a power system on the Moon based on the fabrication of solar cells by thin film growth technology in the vacuum environment of the Moon. This can be accomplished by the deployment of a moderately-sized (/spl sim/200kg) crawler/rover on the surface of the Moon with the capabilities of preparation of the lunar regolith for use as a substrate, evaporation of the appropriate semiconductor material for the solar cell structure, and deposition of metallic contacts and interconnects. This unique process will allow for the emplacement of a lunar electric power system that can reach a 1 MW capacity level in several years of crawler operation. This approach for the emplacement of an electric power system on the Moon would require the transportation of a much smaller mass of equipment to the Moon than would otherwise be required to install a complete electric power system brought to the Moon and emplaced there. It would also result in an electric power system that was repairable/replaceable through the simple fabrication of more solar cells.