Thermal Analysis of Photovoltaic Investigation on the Lunar Surface (PILS)

Solar technology is key in future explorations of the moon and space, but solar design so far has been based on Earth and Earth orbits. A small payload, Photovoltaic Investigation on the Lunar Surface (PILS), is carrying a set of the latest solar cells for a technology demonstration on the lunar surface. This paper discusses the analyses of the thermal performance and design of the PILS payload throughout its mission. The results show that the payload will remain within its survival temperature range throughout transit, but will need an optimized heater design in order to ensure operational mode during some parts of the mission.