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#1 2026-03-04 09:31:43

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Orbital Platforms

The moderators can instruct me to modify these materials, and I expect I will comply.

I am putting the topic here as I get harassed less in the Terraform section than anywhere else.

I am at this time thinking of the Earth orbital environment, but I don't think we have to restrict the topic to only that.

SpaceX and others are suggesting the upgrade of the Starlink and other similar systems in orbits.

SpaceX and others are suggesting data center networks in sun synchronous orbits.

I am thinking of adding in the concept of service devices to "Service" the satellites in orbit.

I am thinking about solar Power Platforms, that have tethers that reach up into the lower Van Allen Belts, and down into the orbits that Syn Synchronous Satellites may be in.

So, something like this might be put into a Sun Synchronous Orbit to process slowly as to intercept Data Center Satellites:

I am very willing to be corrected, this is rather sudden and I may have made mistakes in my thinking.

Two, solar platforms with electrodynamic tethers between them up and down, may provide a method to assist in the fetching of Data Center Satellites into such a device for servicing.

Perhaps an electric rocket device will "Fetch" one and then bring it to the center of Mass and then an elevator will conduct it to the service area.

The two platforms will have multiple tethers between them as they will be somewhat like flat solar facing collections of solar panels and the supporting structures. Some of the tethers will be electrodynamic, so the structure will be able to maintain itself in orbit against the thin atmosphere, reacting to the Earth's magnetic field.

Obviously, some consideration about space junk is needed. So, to avoid the Kestler Syndrome, this device may be assistive in helping to clean up the junk. But also, how to make the platform compatible with the data center orbits and avoid collision with them?

I have also shown tethers extending into the Van Allen Belt, the lower belt where the protons are. I have wondered if we could use it to preform transmutation???

Mercury to Gold is of interest. Granted it may be radioactive Gold, but in orbit, it may be of industrial use.

I agree that it is farfetched, but I got favorable responses on my "Smart Phone" and negative responses on my computer when browsing.

I would appreciate it if people would not trash this whole post because one item is questionable. We have several magnetic fields of interest in our solar system, Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. And Mercury>>>Gold may not be the only possibility.

Tethers that dip deep into the Magnetic field of Jupiter might be interesting places to try to obtain the results of transmutation.

https://www.iflscience.com/marathon-fus … gold-80132

However transmutation is it's own concern. The main idea here is a service center for Sun Synchronous Satellites.

In this concept, I am also very interested in stranded 2nd stages and space junk.

An example might be Terran-R and perhaps Rocket Labs Neutron 2nd Stage.

https://www.relativityspace.com/terran-r

I am interested in recovering them to a more permanent orbit, perhaps using Neumann Driver or Magdrive.

I am anticipating that if you have solar platforms in space, then you might beam power using lasers to a tug to fetch these pieces of space junk.

https://newatlas.com/energy/star-catche … ing-record

Quote:

The concept of beaming laser power to satellites has been explored since the 1960s, with recent advancements leading to the development of systems like Star Catcher Industries' Star Catcher Network. This network aims to beam concentrated solar power directly to client satellites' existing solar panels, enabling them to generate two to ten times more power on demand without the need for retrofitting. Star Catcher's technology has set a new world record for wireless power transmission, demonstrating the potential for a scalable energy network in space.
Interesting Engineering
+2

Quote:

What Star Catcher is working on is similar to DARPA, which holds the previous beaming record of 800 W set in June 2025. Instead of generating microwaves, a grid of solar panels power an optical multi-spectrum laser that can be aimed at a client satellite. These carefully controlled wavelengths are optimized to best suit the target solar panels.
Put simply, this would be like holding a huge magnifying glass on the target spacecraft, greatly increasing the efficiency of the panels without having to enlarge or even modify them. According to the company, the increase in power generation would be between two and 10 times using off-the-shelf panel components.

I think that the Terran-R 2nd stage has a fair amount of Aluminum, and the Neutron 2nd Stage will have Carbon. Both are useful. They will also have Meth-lox engines and propellant tanks that may be useful.

Perhaps Lunar landers could be made from those items.

In the future, I think it would be idea to have a Lunar Starship that only lands and stays on the Moon with a lot of Cargo, and a small Mini-Ship that can carry humans up and down from the Moon. Perhaps based on Terran-R and/or Neutron parts.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-04 10:28:59)

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#2 2026-03-04 11:13:20

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

What about a pendulum Tether or a spin Tether.

If you have a Tether lowered from a platform higher up, you could put a rocket on the bottom of it.

So, my idea is that since the end of the tether will be traveling at less than the speed of a circular orbit, at that altitude. So, then with a pendulum, can you snatch a satellite on the forward swing which adds speed?

You might also put a rocket engine on the end of the tether, to push it, grab a satellite, and then pull both the rocket and satellite in???

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-04 11:24:53)

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#3 2026-03-04 11:40:33

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

OK, then referencing the two initial posts, perhaps you include a net that can travel up and down the pendulum tether.

Granted, you also could do a rotavator, but I think that might be more difficult to use with a giant solar power platform.

Then I antihate that you would have electrodynamic tethers that extend upwards and which draw the solar panels upwards against the decay of orbit from air molecules and the snatching process.

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#4 2026-03-04 12:29:54

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

And regarding the previous 3 posts, you could have unwind slack spooled that you could let out to reduce the shock of a netting event, over time.

A video that explains "Tokens", (Which I did not know): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5O8Shej7bg
Quote:

"Just The Beginning" The Single Unit Driving The Entire AI Economy
Farzad

So, all the stuff they intend to invest in satellites will eventually become junk to repair/recycle.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-04 12:45:34)

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#5 2026-03-04 20:59:35

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

OK, I have elaborated a bit more:

A bit like a fishing rod that can pivot on the bottom of the solar array. Forward<>Backward or Left<>Right, or clockwise or counterclockwise.

This may help it dodge space junk below it, or to come close to the object that is to be netted. The netting apparatus may have small thrusters, to fine adjust quickly the netting event.

Like a fishing rod the cable can let out line with a drag function, to keep the line from snapping. And like a fishing rod after the event in in control the netted object could be pulled in.

So, I am thinking that the data center elements may orbit just a few 10's of kilometers below the orbit of this service device.

If the service device and the data centers were both in circular orbits, then the net will be moving at a slower speed than the data centers as it depends as part of the catching and service device. So actually, the timing has to be such that the pendulum has moved the net to it's maximum pendulum speed in a forward direction, to overtake the data center.

Here is further elaboration:

Ideally fetched materials will be reusable part to part, but of course some old stuff might be made into something else, if nothing else then radiation shielding.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

A second fetch method would be to beam power to a Neumann Drive or Magdrive to bring large junk objects up to the service station. For instance expended 2nd Stages of Terran-R or Rocket Lab, or maybe even Falcon 9's.

So, I feel eventually it makes not sense to drop mass that was lifted to orbit to burn up in the atmosphere. It's value in orbit is larger than its value as dust in the atmosphere.

So, mass will accumulate in orbit of Earth and perhaps the Moon, even before mass can be extracted from the Moon.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-04 21:20:30)

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#6 2026-03-05 10:08:08

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Here is a video about a data center that has been tested, apparently: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r … &FORM=VIRE
Quote:

88,000 Satellites?! Starcloud CEO Interview (Philip Johnston) ?️
YouTube
HyperChange
6 views
19 hours ago

I only partially understand, I expect but I will do dialog based on the little I know, with considerable uncertainty.

I am presuming that the mass of these devices might be divided into 5 basic parts.
1) Chips
2) Shielding from radiation
3) Solar Panels
4) Radiators
5) Connective Structure.

My understanding is that the data centers in sun synchronous orbits will have less atmospheric drag than Starlink Satellites will. Data Centers will be in a higher orbit, so orbital decay rates should be much lower.

Items #1 and #3 are the ones that may become outdated soonest, I think.
Items #2, #4, and #5 might be strongly reusable/repairable.

#1 replaced are perhaps to become basic junk materials.
#3 replaced, might be put into a solar power platform, even if they do not perform well anymore, I think.

My understanding is that solar panels on Earth may still be 60% efficient after 100 years of use. So, perhaps after they would be scavenged off of a data center satellite, they might have a second use in a solar power platform. That is my speculation.

@2, #4, and #5 may be reusable long term (Or not).

Here is a video about Mass Drivers on the Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DUydTgyGQ0&t=16s
Quote:

The Lunar Mass Driver Orbital Supply Chain
ANTHROFUTURISM

But before that, I suggest something that maybe would be sensible.

I am speculating that you could make a one-Launch Starship with Aluminum as the upper part, but still using Stainless Steel for the propulsion systems, more or less. The Aluminum Fairing might be popped off and recycled to perhaps make radiators or other structures for Satellites.

The propulsion section might be refilled and used to move cargo to the Moon. The cargo might be strapped onto it's sides and dropped from a low altitude or retained all the way to landing.

I have already elaborated on the above paragraphs previously elsewhere, so I will not do much more about it here. I will suggest that release air bags, might have sub-bags in them with materials that could be used in a 3D printing process, to make machine parts and tools on the Moon. Powder or chips of a metal inside of cushioning bags inside of a major sized air bag system.

By dropping this prior to landing, the landing legs of the Starship Propulsion device do not have to be as sturdy and might involve less dry mass consumption.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-05 10:37:35)

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#7 2026-03-06 09:08:16

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

I have been wondering for a while, how hard would it be to use a Starship of some sort as a data center?

I think that an Expendable-Not-Really Starship, if outfitted with solar panels as a sunshield, and poised in the sunlight could have a cold side that data devices could be bonded to.

The basic idea:

So, some projections seem to be that a onetime Starship might lift 250 tons of cargo eventually. I think this could be worthwhile as long as the Super Heavy is not expended.

So, in LEO, the Solar Panels might be deployed by robotic systems, and perhaps the Raptors pulled and send back to the surface. An Electric Rocket motor(s) added, and some amount of a propellant. Then the Data Center features included to it and then it would fly itself to Sun Synchronous and then start using some of the electric power to power the data center aspects.

This may require one or more reusable Starships to give 100 to 200 tons more resources for each Starship flight with recovery.

So, of course in this case your radiator is Starship tank and fairing walls, which are currently Stainless Steel. You could add Aluminum radiator fins to those surfaces, but that is more mass.

I do not expect that the two main tanks will be kept pressurized, perhaps a smaller tank could hold actively cooled Argon.

Or perhaps Neumann Drive or Magdrive would be used.

I guess better minds may do something else, but I though the idea at least may disserve a look.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-06 09:28:33)

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#8 2026-03-06 10:02:00

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Continuing with the previous post, of course the Starship might be poised 90 degrees from what I showed.

So, either way you have a chassis of Starships Stainless Steel which also has some radiator qualities, in a Sun Synchronous orbit.

IF Earth "Civilization" remains sensible for 1000 years, you can keep reusing that mass that had an original cost, for much of that time, all of that time, or perhaps more than that time. That is then an valuable asset into the future.

From time to time you might change out the data center "Chips" and other parts, and also the solar panels.

Old Solar panels could be put into a very large solar array somewhere even if they are only 60% as good as they originally were.

Eventually all of the mass might be recycled in various ways.

I think this can be done for Syn Synchronous data centers. I don't know if the Starlink Satellites can be recovered to a higher orbit for a reasonable price. It would be good if they could be.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-06 10:12:12)

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#9 2026-03-06 21:40:48

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

The idea of making convertible Starships has some appeal to me. Of course, it might not be the most productive pathway to data centers in sun-synchronous orbits, but I kind of like the idea.

Unless the fairing section we converted to be Aluminum, then most of the metal in syn-synchronous orbit would be Steel.

Magdrive and Neumann Drive can run on any conductive material unless it has a low melt point, I understand so Steel might be OK.

But the problem with those types of propulsion is that they are energy pigs, but they do have a high efficiency for the mass expelled.

Space Startup News has an evaluation of them: https://www.spacestartupnews.com/2026/0 … ropulsion/ Quote:

Goodbye Xenon, Hello Cheap Metal: Why Neumann Drive Could Dominate Space Propulsion

I have toyed with some notions and would like to adapt this one to the Data Center concept:

Ignore the legs for now. If a Starship were given a detachable upper section of fairings, made of Stainless Steel or Aluminum, then the bags I show might be carried up, uninflected to LEO, in the fairings. Then the bags would be inflated with bags of materials for 3D printers or Alloys. And then filled with Urethane foam. Attached to the sides of the ship in LEO. Then the Ship being refilled might travel to the Moon without the fairings.

The Fairings left in LEO, could be appropriated by the nest ship that is to be a data center. It could carry the fairings to sun-synchronous orbit, and then it might be converted into propellants for Neumann Drive or Magdrive.

So, that would be for station keeping for the data centers.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-06 22:04:09)

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#10 2026-03-07 08:10:52

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

What I read about orbital Data Centers:

https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/upl … Center.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_data_center

Quote:

Between 500 km and 2,000 km
The proposed orbital data centers are expected to operate at altitudes between 500 km and 2,000 km. This range allows for a narrow orbital shell, enabling efficient solar energy capture and minimizing the need for batteries or other systems. The satellites will be designed to remain solar-powered for more than 99 percent of their operations, which is crucial for the longevity and efficiency of the data centers.
GeekWire
+1

So this includes Low Earth Orbits but not Very Low Earth Orbits:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Earth_orbit

Quote:

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Low Earth orbit (LEO) is the region of space within approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) above Earth where satellites and spacecraft orbit at high speeds, completing an orbit roughly every 90–128 minutes.
Definition and Altitude
LEO refers to orbits around Earth with altitudes typically between 160 km and 2,000 km (100–1,200 miles) above the surface, though most satellites cluster around 800 km (500 mi) for operational efficiency. The lower limit is constrained by atmospheric drag, which can cause rapid orbital decay below about 160 km, while the upper limit is set by the beginning of the inner Van Allen radiation belt. LEO is the closest orbital region to Earth, making it ideal for high-resolution imaging, low-latency communications, and human spaceflight.
Wikipedia
+3
Orbital Mechanics
Objects in LEO travel at an average velocity of 7.8 km/s (17,500 mph), which allows them to remain in orbit due to the balance between gravitational pull and centrifugal force. Orbital periods range from 90 minutes to about 128 minutes, meaning satellites can circle Earth 11–16 times per day. The required launch delta-v to reach LEO is around 9.4 km/s (5.8 mi/s), making it the most energy-efficient orbit for satellite deployment.
Wikipedia
+3
Types of LEO Orbits
LEO can be circular or elliptical and have various inclinations relative to the equator:
Equatorial LEO (ELEO): Low-inclination orbits that benefit from Earth's rotation, reducing launch energy requirements and providing rapid revisit times over low-latitude regions.
1
Polar and Sun-synchronous orbits (SSO): High-inclination orbits that pass over nearly all parts of Earth, useful for global imaging and environmental monitoring.
2
Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO): Orbits below 450 km (280 mi) that require advanced technologies to counteract atmospheric drag.
1

3 Sources
Applications
LEO hosts the majority of artificial satellites, including:
The International Space Station (ISS): Orbits at ~400 km (249 mi) and circles Earth about 16 times per day.
2
Earth observation satellites: Benefit from proximity for high-resolution imaging.
Communication constellations: Such as Starlink, which use LEO to provide low-latency internet coverage globally.
2
Scientific and experimental missions: Including microgravity research and technology demonstrations.

4 Sources
Challenges
Satellites in LEO face atmospheric drag, especially below 300 km, which can lead to orbital decay. The region is also becoming increasingly crowded, raising collision risks and necessitating careful tracking of objects. Radiation exposure is lower than in higher orbits, but still a consideration for long-duration missions.
Wikipedia
+1
Summary
LEO is a critical orbital region for modern space operations due to its proximity to Earth, low energy requirements, and versatility. It supports human spaceflight, satellite communications, Earth observation, and scientific research, while presenting challenges such as orbital congestion and atmospheric drag that must be managed for sustainable operations.
Wikipedia
+2

So, I was surprised that "The International Space Station (ISS): Orbits at ~400 km (249 mi) and circles Earth about 16 times per day." is in a VELO orbit, (Below 450 km).

So, Data Centers in higher orbits will require less re-boosting from atmospheric drag. So, Magdrive and Neumann Drive may be sufficient.

So, then other than a very large passage of time or stupid behaviors, metal and other mass delivered to 1000 km orbits might persist for centuries for reuse at that location. This is unlike our existing history, where "What goes up, must come down".

And this then may make unusual boosting methods valuable. If you could lift mass from a 400 km orbit to a 1000 km orbit by such a means it may be a valuable asset to have. I suggest tethers and also laser assisted propulsion. Tethers could work from an induced reaction with the Earth's magnetic field.

Laser assisted propulsion could involve Magdrive or Neumann Drive, where the solar panels receive power from laser beams, those beams emitted by power stations higher in orbit. This reduces the dry mass of the solar panels required on the Magdrive or Neumann Drive tugs.

I have already suggested a situation where instead of expelling fairings to drop into the atmospehre, some 2nd stages could retain them into a Low Earth Orbit. Then the Magdrive or Neumann Drive tugs with laser assistance could move them to a higher orbit for consumption.

This might be done with a 1 use Starship. The one-use Starship might use the fairings to get a payload in its fairing volume to a low orbit, then that fairing would be popped off and given to a tug to move to a higher orbit, maybe a Sun-Synchronous Data-Center orbit.

The Starship propulsion unit then could be refilled and it's cargo attached to it's sides. Then it might go to the Moon and either drop it's payloads from a small altitude or land with them.

The Engine section might be reused, or tipped over to help make habitation structure on the Moon.

The fairing of the Starship might remain Stainless Steel, but maybe could be changed to Aluminum. (Not for a Starship that has to aerobrake).

Such a fairing if of Aluminum, (Or Stainless Steel), might be used for propellant for a Magdrive or Neumann Drive tug, but also upon delivery to a Data Center orbit might be converted into radiators and other structures.

There would still be a desire to get stuff from the Moon, perhaps using a Mass Driver system in part, but maybe Iron and Oxygen are the easiest to get from the Moon. And you might want to get Silicon as well, which may not be that easy.

That is what I think at this time.

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Last edited by Void (2026-03-07 08:42:14)

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#11 2026-08-28 07:57:45

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

In order to not generate a new subject/topic, I will put this here: https://www.reflectorbital.com/
Quote:

Reflect Orbital makes clean, abundant energy available on demand.
We exist because reliable access to affordable energy is the foundation of human progress, economic growth, and a healthier planet.

I am going to presume that this sort of thing might be in association with other functions in space.

Obviously having the skill may be useful on alien worlds, such as the Moon.

As for the potential collapse of the AMOC, then a method to prevent the expansion of glaciers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_ … irculation

Such mirrors could be used to increase the summer melt from places like Sweden or Canada should we somehow enter a new ice age.

The same mirrors might be used to extend the growing seasons in the northern spring and fall.
As an example Alaska, Western Canada, and much of Siberia, have good soils that were not scraped away by the last ice age. But the growing seasons are about 70 days. 90 days may allow crops to be grown as older farm land soils have grown thin. Then those areas of thin soil could be converted to something like fruit orchards, where the rainfall is sufficient.

For the arid lands, a increase of sunlight over an ocean stretch could increase the rainfall. This could increase the amount of CO2 absorbed out of the atmosphere as well.

I suppose also it may be possible to capture Carbon from the atmosphere with the growth of Grass. Methods to make grass into wood-like products may pay for this.

Such mirrors at time might be used to cause increased grass growth in highly humid areas.

So, it might usually promote the growth of grass in places with lots of moisture but less sunlight. Then in the summer to create peak melt temperatures to fight back glaciation. Then in the Spring and Fall to fight frost in certain locations with a short growing season.

If it turns out that Lunar mass drivers are made in order to build out data centers in space, then I see no reason why such mirror technology will not also emerge.

Mirror platforms might also host spin gravity habitats, as they could be used as gyros to aim the mirrors.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-08-28 08:15:29)

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#12 2026-09-02 10:20:29

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

I have run into an article that claims a new way of using low grade heat. I am not qualified to evaluate it, I feel, and I don't want to start another topic, so I will put it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inoFpSyrPCc
Quote:

Meet the desktop setup community
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America's New Energy Breakthrough Is Shocking Everyone — Engineers Are Calling It Impossible

I do not know if this is bogus or not.

If I understand it at all, Silicon doped with a small amount of Aluminum, is strongly compressed when it turns from a liquid to a solid. This is said to cause it to have special properties due to arrangements of spaces between atoms.

I think they said that the can cause a substance to only or mostly emit infrared in a bandwidth that some solar cells can absorb.

This supposedly allows capture of up to 15% to 20% of the energy in low grade waste heat captured into electricity.

So, I thought the perhaps this could work on the Moon or in Space.

https://www.damienfrearson.com/blog/har … lar-energy
Quote:

Harnessing Infrared Light: The Next Frontier in Solar Energy
Solar Energy
Mar 14
Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Solar Energy
Solar energy has long been a powerful force in the global transition to renewable power. Traditional solar panels capture sunlight in the visible spectrum, converting it into electricity. However, did you know that over 50% of the sun's energy comes in the form of infrared light — a type of non-visible radiation that current solar panels struggle to harness?
Recent breakthroughs in solar technology are now exploring ways to capture infrared light, promising to significantly increase solar panel efficiency and output. This advancement could revolutionise renewable energy generation and accelerate the world's shift to a cleaner future.

I confess large amounts of ignorance in all of the above.

Query: "How much of the suns spectrum in space is Infrared?"
Quote:

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Infrared Fraction of the Sun’s Spectrum in Space
In space, where the Sun’s radiation is measured at Air Mass Zero (AM0) without atmospheric filtering, infrared (IR) radiation accounts for roughly 49% of the Sun’s total radiative output
scienceinsights.org
scienceinsights.org
. This means that more than half of the Sun’s energy is in the infrared range, which is why infrared is the largest single component of sunlight.
Breakdown of the Sun’s Spectrum in Space
Infrared (IR): ~49% of total solar irradiance
Visible light: ~43% of total solar irradiance
Ultraviolet (UV): ~7% of total solar irradiance
Other wavelengths (X-rays, gamma rays, radio): <1%
scienceinsights.org
scienceinsights.org
Why Infrared Dominates
The Sun’s surface temperature is about 5,800 K, and its radiation closely follows a blackbody curve. At this temperature, the peak emission is in the visible range, but the total energy output extends into the infrared, where the cumulative power is greater than in the visible band. This is why infrared carries the largest share of the Sun’s energy
EBSCO
EBSCO
+1
.
Key Points
Infrared wavelengths range from about 700 nm (just beyond visible red) to ~1 mm
scienceinsights.org
scienceinsights.org
.
Much of this IR is absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, especially in the far-infrared, so space-based observations are essential for accurate measurement
EBSCO
EBSCO
.
The Sun’s IR emission comes mainly from the upper photosphere, where temperatures are cooler (~4,400 K) than the photosphere’s peak
EBSCO
EBSCO
.
In summary: In space, infrared makes up about half of the Sun’s total energy output, making it the dominant part of the solar spectrum
scienceinsights.org
scienceinsights.org
.

I think where I am going with this is if you can make a device that only emits a narrow band of infrared that a type of solar cell can use, in space then the sun might provide such heat with or without mirrors in use to concentrate it.

And if you can convert all wavelengths to heat, and so then only allow emissions from that narrow band to a solar cell, perhaps this may be a good way to harvest solar energy in space.

Last edited by Void (2026-09-02 10:43:09)

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#13 2026-09-03 20:09:49

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

In regard to your comments on the previous post (th), I think there is more to this than what I think you may have absorbed: https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 15#p241315

If I am not confused about it, "Strain Cast Silica (With a pinch of Aluminum)", restricts the bandwidth that heat can radiate out of it, to be that which can be picked up by a special solar cell. It is claimed that it therefore allows the extraction of power from waste heat, that was previously usually not practical to harness. So, it recovers energy that historically has been regarded as unobtainable.

So, of course I am looking at that and thinking what could be done with it in space?

Here is the video again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inoFpSyrPCc
Quote:

America's New Energy Breakthrough Is Shocking Everyone — Engineers Are Calling It Impossible
William and 2 more

I have found this text of further explanation in association with the video:

14,602 views Sep 2, 2026
This video explores a groundbreaking energy innovation that challenges long-standing thermodynamic limitations regarding "low-grade" waste heat, which has historically been considered impossible to recover. It highlights how a research team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, MIT, and the University of Michigan utilized extreme pressure to manipulate the internal structure of silicon, creating a material that effectively captures this widely discarded energy source. By decoupling the traditional link between electrical and thermal conductivity, this discovery—alongside complementary advancements like specialized thermophotovoltaic panels—offers a transformative potential to turn American industrial exhaust into a massive, untapped source of clean, continuous electricity without requiring new power plants or fuel consumption.

Now what if we heated a block of materials to say 100, 200, 400 C, and enclosed it with these panels?

Then we may have a thermal battery.

We might like to have one when we are occulted from sunlight by a celestial object. For instance, on the Moon perhaps. The Moon is plentiful in Silicon and Aluminum. But I don't know about the special solar cells.

Quote:

What are thermophotovoltaic panels?

Quote:

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Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) panels convert heat into electricity by capturing infrared radiation from a hot emitter and converting it via specialized photovoltaic cells.
How TPV Panels Work
TPV panels operate similarly to solar panels but use thermal radiation instead of sunlight. A heat source—such as combustion, industrial waste heat, concentrated solar energy, or nuclear decay—heats an emitter material, which radiates photons primarily in the infrared spectrum. These photons are absorbed by a photovoltaic cell optimized for infrared light, generating electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Some advanced TPV systems include an optical cavity to enhance photon capture and improve efficiency
8msolar.com
8msolar.com
+1
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Components of a TPV System
Heat Source: Provides high-temperature energy to the emitter.
Emitter: A material engineered to emit photons at specific wavelengths, acting as a spectral filter to match the PV cell’s bandgap.
Photovoltaic Cell: Similar to solar cells but tuned for infrared absorption, often made from narrow bandgap semiconductors like gallium antimonide (GaSb) or indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
.
Optical Cavity (optional): Enhances photon recycling and directs radiation efficiently toward the PV cell
8msolar.com
8msolar.com
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Advantages and Applications
TPV panels can operate day or night and in low-light conditions, making them more versatile than traditional solar panels. They are particularly suited for:
Waste heat recovery from industrial processes or engines
Supplementary power generation in spacecraft or remote systems
Integration with concentrated solar power for higher energy conversion
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
+1
TPV systems have a smaller footprint than conventional solar panels and can be integrated into existing infrastructure to capture otherwise wasted thermal energy
cleanenergybusinesscouncil.com
cleanenergybusinesscouncil.com
.
Challenges and Research Directions
Current TPV systems face low efficiency due to thermalization losses and imperfect spectral matching. Multi-junction cells and non-silicon materials can improve efficiency but are expensive. Research focuses on:
Nanostructured emitters to tailor thermal radiation
Near-field TPV to enhance radiative heat transfer
Advanced semiconductor materials for higher conversion efficiency
cleanplanet.icfo.eu
cleanplanet.icfo.eu
TPV technology remains niche but shows promise for energy recovery, renewable energy integration, and compact power generation.
Summary
Thermophotovoltaic panels are an emerging technology that directly converts heat into electricity using infrared radiation and specialized PV cells. While currently limited by cost and efficiency, ongoing research in materials and emitter design could make TPV systems a valuable tool for waste heat utilization and renewable energy applications

So, this would avoid a heat engine should a source of daytime power be available then a block of mass could be heated by some means to then glow in the infrared during the Lunar night to provide electric power.

Various ways of heating might be used, perhaps magnetic induction if the mass has metals to react to it, or microwaves, or just electric elements.

I am concerned that the solar cells may not be appropriate for the Moon.

I have recently read that because they are light as per mass it may pay to import the ingredients for Perovskite solar cells to the Moon and paint solar cells on "Moonglass".

Query: "Can Perovskite be tuned to use Infrared Photons?"
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Tuning Perovskites for Infrared Photon Detection
Yes — perovskite materials can be engineered to detect infrared (IR) photons, and researchers have developed multiple strategies to extend their spectral response into the infrared regime.
Why It’s Challenging
Metal halide perovskites are naturally optimized for visible light detection due to their tunable bandgaps. However, their intrinsic bandgap limits make it difficult to absorb longer-wavelength IR photons without sacrificing performance in other metrics like sensitivity, speed, or stability
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Key Tuning Strategies
Bandgap Engineering
Adjusting the composition (e.g., mixing Sn²⁺ with Pb²⁺) or using mixed halides (I⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻) can shift the bandgap to lower energies, enabling absorption of near-infrared (NIR) and even mid- to long-wavelength IR photons
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Sub-bandgap trap states and impurity-level engineering in single crystals can enhance low-energy photon absorption
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Defect Passivation & Additive Engineering
Reducing non-radiative recombination losses in polycrystalline thin films improves responsivity at longer wavelengths
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Nanostructuring & Light Trapping
Micro- and nano-structured architectures increase light-matter interaction, boosting absorption of weak IR signals
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Heterojunctions & Hybrid Systems
Combining perovskites with elemental semiconductors, inorganic compounds, organic semiconductors, or other perovskite phases can broaden the spectral range
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Hybrid systems with quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, or organic dyes can also extend IR response
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
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Alternative Absorption Mechanisms
Upconversion: Converting low-energy IR photons into higher-energy ones for detection
Nature
Nature
.
Two-photon absorption: Using simultaneous absorption of two lower-energy photons to mimic single high-energy photon absorption
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
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Bolometric effects: Detecting IR via heat generation rather than direct photoelectric effect
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Performance Achievements
Recent advances have pushed perovskite photodetectors’ cutoff wavelengths up to ~4000 nm (long-wave IR), though trade-offs remain between spectral breadth, sensitivity, speed, and stability
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.
Outlook
Future directions include:
Extending cutoff beyond short-wave IR.
Improving IR responsivity and detectivity.
Expanding beyond intensity detection (e.g., spectral imaging).
Enhancing long-term operational stability
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
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In summary: Perovskites can indeed be tuned for IR photon detection through bandgap engineering, defect control, nanostructuring, heterojunctions, and alternative detection mechanisms. While challenges remain, these approaches are enabling high-performance IR photodetectors for applications from biomedical imaging to optical communications
Wiley Online Library
Wiley Online Library
.

Maybe not good enough for power?

Query: "Printing Perovskite solar cells onto Moonglass on the Moon?"
Quote:

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Printing Perovskite Solar Cells on Moonglass on the Moon
Researchers have demonstrated a lunar-based manufacturing approach for high-efficiency solar cells by combining lunar regolith (moonglass) with halide perovskite photovoltaics.
How it works
Moonglass production: Lunar regolith is rich in silica (about 50%), making it ideal for glass-making. On the Moon, regolith can be melted using a solar furnace or laser to form transparent or opaque glass without purification
Advanced Science News
Advanced Science News
+1
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Perovskite deposition: Once the moonglass is formed, a thin layer of halide perovskite is printed or coated onto its surface. This perovskite layer is deposited similarly to how it would be on conventional glass, forming the light-absorbing layer of the solar cell
Optics & Photonics News
Optics & Photonics News
.
Performance: The resulting devices achieve ~23% power conversion efficiency and specific power ratios of 22–50 W/g, far exceeding traditional space solar cells in energy output per gram of material
Perovskite-Info
Perovskite-Info
+1
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Advantages
Mass savings: By making the glass and cells on the Moon, transport from Earth is reduced by ~99%, cutting launch costs and enabling more solar capacity per launch
Advanced Science News
Advanced Science News
+1
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Radiation tolerance: Moonglass is highly resistant to high-energy proton irradiation, and perovskites are also radiation-tolerant, making these cells suitable for the harsh lunar environment
Perovskite-Info
Perovskite-Info
.
In-situ resource utilization (ISRU): Uses only local materials (regolith), aligning with sustainable space exploration principles
Perovskite-Info
Perovskite-Info
.
Current status
The process has been tested in labs using regolith simulants to mimic lunar dust composition and particle shape
Advanced Science News
Advanced Science News
+1
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The next step is in-situ lunar testing to confirm manufacturability in the Moon’s low-gravity, high-radiation environment
Scimex
Scimex
.
Potential for large-scale lunar solar farms to power bases, rovers, and surface operations.
Outlook
If proven viable on the Moon, this method could:
Enable permanent lunar settlements with abundant, locally produced power.
Reduce reliance on Earth-based supply chains for space energy systems.
Serve as a model for off-planet manufacturing of other materials and devices.
In short, printing perovskite solar cells onto moonglass on the Moon is a feasible, high-efficiency, low-transport-energy solution that could be a cornerstone of future lunar energy infrastructure
Perovskite-Info
Perovskite-Info
+1
.

So, importing the Perovskite may be more practical than making solar cells strictly from Lunar materials.

All of the cells made strictly from Lunar materials seem to be rather low performance.

And the Perovskite on Moonglass seems to be a relatively easy manufacturing route.

But yes, what needs solving is a practical way to use Strained Silicon with a pinch of Aluminum, to selectively deliver a narrow bandwidth of photons near Infrared, that a solar cell type obtainable on the Moon can convert to electricity around the clock.

There is plenty of regolith to pile up and enclose in such power methods.

And of course, if you can make that work it probably will work in other space situations.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-09-03 20:39:03)

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#14 2026-09-04 07:54:42

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

I have a response from (th): https://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.ph … 59#p241359

I think you are seeing some of it now.

Yes, I have also wondered about the heat sink involved in solar panels. I think that a stream of photons, where photons cause electrical power actions, is losing heat both to the environment, and to the electrical circuit. Later the energy sent to a device becomes heat though the processes of the device being powered by electricity.

Your idea about wells and mines is not bad. But rather than geothermal, I would look at "Superpower" as defined by RethinkX.
Query: "Superpower as defined by RethinkX?"
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RethinkX’s Definition of “Superpower” in Energy
RethinkX defines “SWB Superpower” as the superabundant electricity that can be produced by a fully solar–wind–battery (SWB) energy system at near‑zero marginal cost
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
In this framework, a 100% SWB system is built to meet electricity demand even when sunshine and wind are at their lowest, which means it can generate surpluses during periods of high generation. This surplus is what RethinkX calls superpower — energy in excess of what is needed for normal operation, available on most days of the year
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
Key characteristics of SWB Superpower
Near‑zero marginal cost: Once the system is built, the cost of producing additional electricity is very low because solar and wind are free, and battery storage is cheap
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
+1
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Surplus generation: In sunny or windy regions, SWB systems can produce more than twice the total annual electricity demand
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
Non‑linear growth: The amount of superabundant energy does not grow proportionally with investment; it follows a convex cost curve (the “Clean Energy U‑Curve”), meaning overbuilding generation is more economical than overbuilding storage
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
Widespread availability: Even the lowest‑cost 100% SWB system can produce superpower on most days in many regions, including New England, California, and Texas
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
Resilience and independence: Nations adopting SWB Superpower gain control over their energy supply, are less vulnerable to market shocks, and can recover quickly from disruptions due to the distributed nature of the system
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
.
Why it matters
RethinkX argues that SWB Superpower can make energy superabundant, lowering the cost of energy to a negligible factor and enabling new economic, social, and environmental opportunities
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
+1
. It is central to their vision of a “Stellar Energy” future, where renewable generation is so cheap and abundant that it can outperform fossil fuels in cost and scale
www.rethinkx.com
www.rethinkx.com
+1
.
In short, for RethinkX, “superpower” is the surplus clean electricity from optimally designed 100% solar–wind–battery systems that is both abundant and cheap to produce, creating a foundation for energy independence and resilience.

Uses for "Superpower" could involve electrolyzing substances to produce Hydrogen, Methane, or Acetate for instance, but only most of the time, not all of the time, not when power is less available.

But in your case of mines and old wells, you could stuff heat into them during superpower and then get a small flow of electricity from the devices that capture electricity from low grade heat.

On the Moon you might build "Pyramid Power". (Not Space Alien, although Space Aliens might do it). This might be done on Earth as well.

Sand wind blown sand is not suitable for Concrete. If you sintered it into a pyramid, and included means of heating, you might encase it in these panels, were, the Strained Silicon/Silica? with a pinch of Aluminum, would restrict the wavelengths of the emitted infrared, and infrared solar cells would harvest electricity from the flow of heat out of the Pyramid.

This might do nicely with Solar Thermal collection arrays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_tower
Image Quote: PS10_solar_power_tower.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled

Three worlds, Earth, Mars, and the Moon. For Earth and Mars you might use air or steam to flow though the pyramid. (Flow channels would have been incorporated into the pyramid during its building).

On the Moon we might consider heating the pyramid with collected power using microwaves or perhaps inductive heating if you put magnetic elements into the Pyramid as you built it. Or you might put heating elements like those of an electric stove.

I think that Mars with enormous amounts of clay might do well with this. IF you could include cast basalt piping in the clay pyramid, then you might flow very hot compressed air though it, or perhaps steam.

I think that opens some notions.

Usually solar power towers produce steam and then you have to store the steam to operate 24/7 (We might hope). But with this we make it simple just heat the Pyramid when you can, you don't need turbines.

Ending Pending ;-)

Think happy thoughts! Stress and fear are the Mind Killer, or sort of so, Dune Says: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Wl8-KQU3I

And if you want an example of hypnotic attention span stretching: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r … &FORM=VIRE

I recently saw a professional music sort of woman trying to analyze the above song. God bless her for trying, but she kept cutting into it. In my opinion it is a tool to get into the deep mind in a mediative way. Certainly not the kind of intelligence that rote learning encourages.

Not for hoity-toities.

Ending Pending :-)

I think that sadly the school systems of today, are formulated so that a teacher can demonstrate superiority. Quick Question, and Quick Answer required. Quite a ego show.

Having the ability to linger/meditate/sleep on a body of thinking is needed instead.

Ending Pending :-)

Last edited by Void (2026-09-04 08:46:34)

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#15 2026-09-04 08:48:08

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

(th) geothermal is fine, but mines and old wells are going to be very low-grade heat. Superpower wants using to a benefit. Pushing heat into mines and wells to extract it later, might be more economically productive.

Ending Pending :-)

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#16 2026-09-04 20:43:48

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

For the Moon a pyramid with the special solar panels mentioned in previous posts, might be composed of sintered blocks.

The casing then to be the mentioned Strain Cast Silica (With a pinch of Aluminum) then also covered by Thermophotovoltaic panels.

A way to inject heat into the mass might be related to drilling geothermal by Quaise. So, you might modify their drilling method to heat the Sintered mass. https://www.quaise.com/

Even if the original energy source were nuclear, you could stuff some energy into this pyramid so that the Pyramid would give a source of electricity, even in the Lunar night and even if other energy sources have failed.

But I do think that alternate sources of energy might be solar on the surface of the Moon, and also microwaved or laser delivered power from orbits.

So, I think that may have value on the Moon.

Ending Pending :-)

Last edited by Void (2026-09-04 20:51:11)

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#17 2026-09-05 09:05:57

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

There already exists a idea that is similar but operates at a higher temperature: Query: "Solar Storage with Hot Carbon"
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Solar Storage with Hot Carbon: How It Works and Why It Matters
Hot carbon-based thermal batteries can store solar (and other renewable) energy as intense heat in solid carbon blocks, then convert it back to electricity or process heat with high efficiency and low cost.
Core Concept
These systems use carbon blocks heated to extreme temperatures — often 1,500–4,350°F (1,900–2,400°C) — to store energy. The heat is generated by running excess electricity (e.g., from solar farms) through resistive elements or by using molten metals to transfer heat into the carbon
MIT News
MIT News
+1
. The carbon remains solid at these temperatures, making it durable and easy to handle.
Energy Conversion
The stored heat is then converted back to electricity using thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, which are tuned to capture the intense infrared and visible light emitted by the hot carbon. TPV cells function like solar cells but are optimized for high-temperature radiation, with recent demonstrations exceeding 40% efficiency
MIT News
MIT News
+1
. This allows the system to output electricity for 10 to over 100 hours at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries.
Key Advantages
Ultra-low cost: Carbon blocks are cheap, abundant, and non-toxic, with material costs around $1/kWh — about 50× cheaper than lithium-ion
New Atlas
New Atlas
.
High volumetric energy density: Solid carbon can absorb and store large amounts of energy in a compact form.
Long-duration storage: Ideal for grid-scale applications where batteries alone can’t meet demand for days.
Dual output: Can deliver both electricity and high-temperature industrial heat (up to ~2,000°C)
New Atlas
New Atlas
.
Scalable and modular: Systems can be containerized and deployed in large numbers.
Examples in Development
Fourth Power (MIT spinout): Uses molten tin to carry heat into carbon blocks, then TPV cells to convert light to electricity. Operates at record temperatures, aiming to cut balance-of-system costs
MIT News
MIT News
+1
.
Antora Energy: Focuses on carbon-based thermal batteries for zero-carbon heat and power, targeting heavy industry decarbonization
New Atlas
New Atlas
.
Applications
Grid storage: Storing solar surplus for use during low-generation periods.
Industrial process heat: Supplying heat for manufacturing, refining, and chemical processes.
Data centers and other high-load facilities: Providing backup or peak-shaving power.
Outlook
Hot carbon thermal batteries represent a promising long-duration, low-cost solution for integrating solar and other renewables into the grid and decarbonizing industries. With ongoing R&D, they could become a mainstream alternative to pumped hydro and lithium-ion storage, especially where cost, scalability, and long-duration capability are critical

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/11/gi … sil-fuels/
Quote:

Giant Blocks Of Steaming Hot Carbon Are Coming For Your Fossil Fuels

So, indeed those are good. But it needs Carbon and very high temperatures.

For the Moon, Carbon is not available on the Moon, and for Mars, Clay is super abundant.

Also, I think the Carbon storage is relatively short term storage, and probably not that much help in a global dust storm.

For Earth? Well most of the land is already used for something, and we do not have global dust storms or a 2 week Lunar night.

Ending Pending :-)

If stony asteroids are processed that are in elliptical sun orbits, the "Tailings" might be useful to incorporate into a thermal storage system. This would allow the storage of energy when closer to the sun and the discharge of energy throughout the sun orbit.

Ending Pending :-)

Last edited by Void (2026-09-05 09:14:20)

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#18 2026-09-05 10:22:03

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Here, I am trying to introduce the idea of a "Long Sleeve Protection Method":

So, when building space habitats, there is bound to be a certain amount of materials that are "Tailings" or "Slag".

I am hoping that this is a useful way to utilize them.

The Brown in the drawing is intended to be a cylinder largely composed of sintered "Tailings or Slag".

Even if you eliminated sections #5, the sections 1, 2, 3, are having some large amount of protection from the raw space environment (Grey).

While the sintered tube, gives radiation protection and also impactor protection, it is partial but useful. I have not included the means to make the radiation protection more complete as that would be various options.

If it is possible to put infrared photon panels on the surfaces of the "Long Sleeve", you might store heat in it.

From post #16, quote:

The casing then to be the mentioned Strain Cast Silica (With a pinch of Aluminum) then also covered by Thermophotovoltaic panels.

So, the heat stored leaking out slowly might serve as a battery.

Although the "Long Sleeve" could be made rotating, I instead imagine having many "Long Sleeves" interconnected into very large platforms.

I do not consider this to be well formed yet, but as a idea to stimulate new thinking. So, I have not strongly defined it.

An object like Phobos or Deimos, might have materials processed to extract certain metals and Oxygen, maybe Carbon if there is any. Then a "Long Sleeve" might be sintered from the Tailings/Slag, and would offer some "First Line" protection.

Ending Pending :-)

Last edited by Void (2026-09-05 10:34:47)

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#19 2026-09-05 11:28:51

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Referring to the "Long Sleeve" idea in post #18, could be very long, or in the form of a Toroid or figure 8. Various ways to use Slag materials to build a protective platform.

You could make it serpentine for instance rather than strait linear.

Although in a straight line or serpentine "Long Sleeve", there are openings at two ends, there is no reason why ports could be passing though the walls of the device at intervals.

If you made one that was several km long, most of the interior would be very protected from the raw space environment. So, you could hang various things like solar panels and mirrors on the outside of the "Long Sleeve".

Objects like Phobos, Deimos, and asteroids may relatively easily provide "Waste" materials to make a "Long Sleeve" from.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-09-05 11:33:23)

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#20 2026-09-05 13:37:36

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Referring to the previous two posts, it is hard to reconcile "Long Sleeve" which might host human activity from those that might be a sort of power supply.

So, a linear version could have segmentation for the two uses or parallel "Long Sleeves".

I desire to continue to see this as a very open archetecture.

Parallel Long Sleeves would give mutual protection each to each other, with the one in the center the most protected. The outer parallels might have internal temperatures 100, 200, 400 C.

If there are Parallel sections then the parts in the center protecting humans does not have to do as much of the work of protection.

Generally, I do not see these things as being pressurized, but "Never say Never".

These structures might primarily be composed of excess amounts of Calcium Oxides and Silicon Oxides and any other scrap materials.

I feel this set of notions may work well for the materials of the moons of Mars.

Then later perhaps in the Asteroid Belts.

Ending Pending

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#21 2026-09-05 19:29:55

Void: Member; Registered: 2011-12-29; Posts: 9,861

Re: Orbital Platforms

Continuing with the theme of the previous few posts.......

I am presuming that this is approximately what a shell or set of shells should need to provide.
Query: "How much regolith is needed on the Moon for radiation protection?"
Quote:

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Regolith Thickness Needed for Radiation Protection on the Moon
For long-term human presence on the Moon, lunar regolith is a key in-situ resource for radiation shielding, but the amount needed depends on the type of radiation and mission duration.
Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs)
NASA and Johns Hopkins University studies using the OLTARIS tool show that at least 2 meters of regolith is required to reduce exposure to acceptable levels for a permanent base
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
At 2m depth, exposure is about 150mSv per 180‑day mission; increasing to 3m reduces this to ~100mSv
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
There is a peak in secondary radiation dose between 1.0–1.5m, so optimal shielding often lies beyond that range
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
Solar Particle Events (SPEs)
Regolith is highly effective against SPEs, with protection improving with depth
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
For short-term storm shelters, lighter regolith layers (e.g., 0.5–1m) can be sufficient for emergency protection
sentinelmission.org
sentinelmission.org
.
Design strategies
Permanent bases often use thick regolith layers (2–3m) around sleeping and medical areas, sometimes combined with other materials like polyethylene or aluminum for mixed shielding
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
Underground habitats or lava tubes can further reduce required regolith thickness by using natural overburden
MDPI
MDPI
+1
.
Mixed crews can stay safely on the surface if total effective dose is kept below career limits (e.g., ~600mSv)
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
Practical considerations
Regolith is cost-effective compared to launching shielding from Earth, potentially saving billions in mission costs
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
Compressed regolith can provide both radiation and thermal insulation, reducing energy needs for habitat climate control
MDPI
MDPI
.
Secondary radiation (neutrons, gamma rays) must be accounted for in dose calculations, especially at intermediate depths
ResearchGate
ResearchGate
.
Summary table:
Radiation Type Recommended Regolith Depth
Approx. Dose Reduction
GCRs (permanent base) 2–3m
~100–150mSv/180d
SPEs (emergency) 0.5–1m
High protection
Underground (lava tube) 0–1m
Very high protection
Bottom line: For a permanent lunar base, 2–3m of regolith is a common engineering target for GCR protection, with SPE protection achievable at shallower depths. Combining regolith with other materials or using natural overburden can optimize both radiation and thermal performance.

I am thinking that a "Long Sleeve" could be built of interlocking blocks resembling puzzle pieces, and that the cylinder or other shape might be wrapped in tensile materials like tensile metal bands or Carbon netting.

A serpentine or Helical tube shape might be possible.
https://www.dreamstime.com/serpentine-f … e276310057
Image Quote: serpentine-form-spiral-sketch-vector-illustration-decorative-ribbon-holiday-decoration-cute-curl-doodle-style-276310057.jpg?w=576

Having one or two ends open might allow infrared to drain out, but present an interrupted path for harmful raditation.

This is just a very quick doodle and only partially drawn as practical. (Flat walls holding a differential pressure as shown are not practical)

A double shell of materials sintered shelters a metal rotating habitation cylinder. The "Sleeve" is not long in the picture as per lack of space.

The gap between the two sintered walls is likely not pressurized, but with some work perhaps some of it could be.

I think that this could be a fair amount of fun as a lot of creativity might be innate in these fundamental structure options.

Ending Pending

Last edited by Void (2026-09-05 20:01:06)

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