Blue Origin's Giant Solar Tower for the Moon.
· Tech · Cem Koyluoglu
Blue Origin is developing a solar power system for use on the Moon, where providing uninterrupted power to equipment will be one of the biggest practical challenges. The tower, which is still in the early stages of development, ...
TL;DR Blue Origin is developing the Power Tower, a 20‑meter‑tall vertical solar array that will deliver over 10 kW of uninterrupted power to lunar missions, particularly NASA’s Artemis program at the Moon’s southern pole. The modular design lifts panels above surface obstacles, reduces footprint, and can distribute energy beyond the landing module, addressing key energy challenges for future lunar operations. The project is still in early development with no launch date announced.
Key Highlights • 20‑meter tall, 10 kW solar array designed for Artemis southern‑pole operations. • Modular, vertical design lifts panels above terrain, reduces footprint, and supports power distribution to multiple units. • Builds on Honeybee Robotics’ LAMPS and vertical solar array research, aligning with NASA’s 2029 lunar base timeline. • Still in early stages; launch date not yet set.
Blue Origin’s Power Tower: A New Approach to Lunar Power
Blue Origin is developing a solar power system designed to deliver uninterrupted electricity to equipment on the Moon, a challenge that the company says will be one of the most significant practical hurdles for future lunar missions. The tower, still in the early stages of development, has not yet been given a launch date.
The proposed system underscores the growing emphasis on infrastructure for operations on the lunar surface. While launch vehicles and landing modules can deliver equipment to the Moon, systems such as the Power Tower are intended to keep that equipment operational once it arrives.
Blue Origin calls the system Power Tower. After landing, a 20‑metre‑tall array of solar panels unfurls vertically, designed to generate more than 10 kilowatts of power. The company announced that the Power Tower is intended for use in NASA’s Artemis program, specifically for operations at the Moon’s southern pole.
An animation released by Blue Origin shows the tower’s descent and ascent from its base. The sequence begins with a central pole rising, followed by arms that deploy the solar panels into position.
The design tackles a core problem that will shape almost every aspect of lunar operations: producing and distributing energy on the Moon is difficult, and the southern pole presents especially harsh conditions. In parts of the region, sunlight arrives at low angles, and craters, ridges, and other terrain features can cast shadows over nearby areas, with conditions changing over short distances.
A vertical panel array lifts the panels above surface obstacles, and the structure can also reduce the footprint of the power system. When a landing site must accommodate vehicles, scientific equipment, communications gear, and eventually habitats and rovers, this compactness becomes crucial.
Because of its modular architecture, Blue Origin says the Power Tower can transmit power beyond the landing module to the units that need it most. This capability is vital for all permanent or semi‑permanent lunar operations. Surface systems will require electricity for communications, thermal control, scientific instruments, computer hardware, and mobility systems. While a single 10‑kilowatt tower cannot power a large lunar settlement on its own, it can support smaller operations or serve as part of a larger energy network.
The Power Tower builds on work by Blue Origin’s subsidiary Honeybee Robotics. Honeybee previously developed the LAMPS (Lunar Array Mast and Power System) project, which was tested at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in 2024. Honeybee also collaborated with NASA on a Vertical Solar Array Technology project, examining how solar panel arrays could operate effectively in lunar environments where ground‑mounted panels might be blocked by terrain or exposed to unfavorable sun angles.
Blue Origin’s announcement links the tower to NASA’s plans for a lunar base by 2029, with the base expected to become operational by 2032 according to NASA’s current schedule.
Blue Origin continues to refine the Power Tower design as part of its broader lunar ambitions.
Source: https://www.techspot.com/news/114093-blue-origin-reveals-65-foot-solar-tower-designed.html