Payload development, power generation and energy storage solutions for the Artemis program

The Artemis missions are part of the NASA-led Artemis program and mark the first return to the lunar surface after the Apollo space missions, targeting the Moon South Pole for scientific exploration, with significant contributions from other space agencies: European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The European Space Agency plays a key role in developing newly born technologies that will be integrated into scientific payloads for deployment on the lunar surface, with a focus on In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), and the potential use of lunar regolith to support long-term space exploration. This thesis focuses on two payloads: MILO and SCORCH. Both are described, and their Technological Readiness Levels (TRL) are assessed before and after the functional tests conducted during this work. Their future development potential is also evaluated. The possible integration with the European lunar lander Argonaut is also considered. However, since the lander is still under development, it is not yet possible to define the interfaces and precise technical requirements. Given the high- risk nature of the lunar landing and the associated probability of failure of the lander, the proposed payload design includes power generation and energy storage systems to enable independent operability after deployment. This requirement necessitates the evaluation of reliable and efficient energy storage solutions capable of withstanding the harsh lunar environment outside Earth’s magnetosphere. Finally, a trade-off analysis is presented to compare available energy storage technologies for lunar payloads, ranging from conventional lithium-ion batteries to regenerative fuel cells (RFCs). The objective is to identify the most effective energy storage strategy to ensure the survival and operability of the MILO and SCORCH payloads throughout the mission duration, contributing to the success and sustainability of lunar exploration.