Description: Robotically Assembled Light Bender (RALB) is an ACO demonstration under development by Maxar and Langley Research Center (LaRC). Light Bender is a novel heliostat concept that utilizes a combination of large flat mirrors and Cassegrain telescope optics designed to dynamically distribute sunlight on the lunar surface for distances up to 5 km while maintaining sufficient beam integrity to generate 1 kWelevel power photovoltaically at the end user. With this effort Maxar and LaRC will take the first step towards realizing the Light Bender vision by demonstrating how the Tadem Reflector Mirror (TRM), the long-haul element of Light Bender, can be assembled robotically on the lunar surface. The TRM is a heliostat (Figure 2), the mirrors are 10m in diameter and deploy on a 10 m mast. They operate in tandem to collect sunlight and redirect that sunlight into a PSR. The upper mirror continuously modifies its position such that it reflects the light coming off the lower mirror onto a target. In a full mission scenario, the target of the TRM reflection would be the second component of the Light Bender system, the Cassegrain Fresnel Distribution Optics (CFDO). However, for the purposes of the ACO, the team will only demonstrate the robotic assembly of the TRM and its functional optical properties. During the ACO the team will combine their skills and experience related to In-Space Assembly (Maxar) and lunar structures and power systems (LaRC) to develop a method for assembling the TRM using the Maxar robotic arm. The Maxar robotic arm is the presently being utilized on the NASA OSAM-1 mission to assemble a communications antenna on orbit and the arm’s capabilities appear perfect for the concept envisioned here.

Benefits: This effort, the demonstration of autonomous robotic assembly of Light Bender, sits at the nexus of three of NASA's most important technology thrust areas, TX03 Aerospace Power and Energy Storage, TX04 Robotic Systems, and TX07 Exploration Destination Systems. At the center sits Light Bender, as concept develop specifically to facilitate photovoltaic power production in PSRs. Surrounding, the functional mission the Maxar team brings a robotic assembly arm that has been tested in space and has the potential to shrink the stowed volume of the Light Bender payload by over 50%. Shrinking the payload stowed volume allows for the system to be delivered on small autonomous landers thus enabling “Day One" power for future lunar architectures focused on In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). This powerful first step can be followed by other activities that are in fact spin-offs of the demonstrated concept. Multiple lunar surface assets from habitats to laboratories and logistical elements require both power and assembly. RALB will demonstrate the utility of both power and ISA, leading the way to an operation lunar sustainment base.