PALETTE Parabolic Reflector Radiator for LuSEE-Night

This paper reports on the current status of the PALETTE PRR for LuSEE-Night project, which is adapting low-cost parabolic reflector radiator (PRR) technology developed on the previously completed PALETTE project for the LuSEE-Night (21 cm cosmology) mission. A low-cost PRR is achieved with a two-piece (radiator plate + reflector) design using parts that can either be 3D-printed or conventionally machined. LuSEE-Night is a 2026 CLPS mission to a low latitude (20 S) lunar farside site and it has a side-facing radiator that must be a PRR in order to stay cool during lunar daytime. Project goals are to: (a) design/build/test a 1/9th-size subscale PRR; and (b) design/build/test/deliver nine flight PRR reflectors. LuSEE-Night will produce a large flight PRR radiator plate to which nine flight PRR reflectors made by JPL will mate. Required PRR performance is a radiative sink temp < 231 K at lunar noon. Flight PRR reflector delivery is slated for April 2024. Funding was provided by NASA GCD.