How can future lunar explorers maintain constant communication with Earth from the far side of the Moon, perpetually hidden from our planet?
A recent study submitted to the IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems offers a potential solution in the form of a Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) system, but using satellites and a solar-powered receiver.
Researchers at Polytechnique Montréal investigated the possibility of using satellites in an Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 2 (EMLP-2) halo orbit to transmit power wirelessly to a receiver on the lunar far side.
“This research is motivated by the objective of overcoming the logistical and technical challenges associated with using traditional cables on the Moon’s surface,” the study’s co-author, Dr. Gunes Karabulut Kurt, told Universe Today. “Laying cables on the Moon’s rough, dusty surface would lead to ongoing maintenance and wear problems, as lunar dust is highly abrasive.”
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