The innovation investigated in this project is the use ofdirect sunlight and albedo for task and general illumination in reducedgravity environments. The primary objective will be to designconceptually a solar optic system for a lunar base and to determine itspower, mass, cost, and performance characteristics. The design will becompared with a conventional fluorescent lighting system. Thedeliverable will be a technical feasibility report and recommendationfor prototype development in Phase II. Solar optics is an approach tothe transmission of light to remote interior spaces. It is chosen as thebasis for this project because it has been successfully used interrestrial applications and is uniquely suited for adaptation toreduced-g environments. Solar illumination offers an efficientalternative to electrically generated illumination through an efficacywhich can be twice that of other light sources. Power requirements for acombined solar/artificial lighting system are expected to be a smallfraction of those for all electric sources. Supplemental electricluminaries can be safely isolated from occupied areas, and effectivelightweight optical materials are available.Commercial applications include lighting for commercial, retail, andindustrial buildings in industrialized and developing countries.lighting, solar optics, illumination, lunar base, CELSSSTATUS: Phase I Only
