Moondust heater could keep astronauts warm on the lunar surface

The system under development uses solar concentrators to store heat in the lunar soil (or regolith) during the day which can then be released during the lunar night. Depending on the altitude, lunar night can last for as long as two weeks, with temperatures often dipping below -170°C.

Numerous robotic missions have perished during this prolonged cold. Russia’s Lunokhod-2 rover, for instance, failed to make it through the night in May 1973, its radioactive heater having gradually run down after four months of exploring.

The Apollo manned missions stayed on the surface only a few days at a time, and all during the early lunar morning.

“Up until now, radioactive heat and power sources have been the preferred solution for lunar habitats,” saids ESA’s Moritz Fontaine. “But these would multiply the cost and complexity of any expedition. So we’re exploring a more sustainable solution, using the capacity of moondust to absorb and store energy when hit by sunlight, then releasing this energy during the lunar night.”