ArticleBody:With 260-degrees Fahrenheit days followed by weeks-long evenings dipping down as far as negative 280 degrees, lunar explorers like Japan’s SLIM can only withstand so much environmental punishment. But if humanity intends to establish a permanent presence on the moon, astronauts will need more adaptable equipment for the long haul—and researchers are developing innovative solutions to ensure tools like lunar rovers are up to the task.
Since there is no air in space, the heat generated by the electronics must be actively cooled and dissipated,” Nishikawara said. “On the other hand, during extremely cold nights, electronics must be insulated from the outside environment so that they don’t get too cold.” To address these hurdles, the team’s new thermal control device first relies on a phase-shifting refrigerant inside its LHP during blazingly hot lunar days.