Phased-Array Laser Power Beaming from Cislunar Space to the Lunar Surface

This paper introduces a rigorous analytical framework for quantitatively evaluating space-based laser power beaming from lunar-orbiting spacecraft to surface receivers, thereby addressing the critical need for continuous, robust, and high-density energy to sustain lunar exploration and habitation.The framework integrates comprehensive physics-based models of spacecraft photovoltaic generation, precise orbital geometries, time-dependent link availability and slant-range variations, coherent beam propagation (including transmitter aperture diameter, beam quality factor, path losses, and pointing jitter), and photonic-to-electrical conversion at the lunar surface. Particular emphasis is placed on phased-array transmitter systems, whose larger effective apertures substantially reduce beam divergence compared to single-aperture designs, resulting in multiple orders-of-magnitude increases in delivered surface power under equivalent orbital and power conditions. By conducting parametric sensitivity analyses and illustrative numerical simulations, the study demonstrates how phased-array architectures boost power density and end-to-end efficiency at operational lu-nar distances. It also explores advanced orbital configurations (e.g., Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbits, Earth–Moon Lagrange points), real-time adaptive beam steering and wavefront control, optimized receiver geometries, and robust thermal/dust mitigation strategies. These findings establish a clear path toward scalable, efficient laser power beaming infrastructures capable of overcoming lunar-specific challenges—such as prolonged darkness and permanently shadowed regions—and enabling transformative advances in long-duration lunar surface operations.