ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8712
Open Date: 29/09/2016
Closing Date: 10/11/2016 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 16.197.05
Prog. Ref.: General Studies
Budget Ref.: E/0600-00 – General Studies
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+HU+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+CA+EE
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Power / Generation: Solar Thermal
Technology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESAHQ
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Management
Department: System, Software & Technology Department
Division: Future Prep. & Strategic Studies Office
Contract Officer: O’Sullivan, Margaret
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 29/09/2016
Update Reason: Tender issue

Lunar exploration is likely one of the next steps of human space exploration beyond the International Space Station (ISS). Design reference missions for lunar exploration as well as roadmaps for technologies for space exploration have been established by ESA. One of the biggest challenges of the exploration of the Moon is the survival of the crew and the lunar assets during the lunar night, and the provision of energy for such elements. The environmental conditions on the lunar surface and its cycle, with long periods of darkness, make any long mission in need of specific amounts of heat and electricity challenging. This proposal will study the potential of thermal energy storage systems as a means of supporting future lunar exploration scenarios.

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