Optical Components for Space Based Solar Plant Lighting System

Development of key components for the Optical Waveguide (OW) Solar Plant Lighting System is proposed. In this system, solar radiation is divided into two spectral components: photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) spectra (400 nm 700 nm). The PAR component is directed to the OW transmission line and is transmitted to the plant growth chamber, while the non-PAR spectra are converted either to electric power or to process heat. The proposed system will improve the efficiency of plant lighting for biomass production by at least one order of magnitude over the conventional electric lighting system. In Phase I, system configurations for three specific applications: orbit/transit flight; Lunar colony; and Mars colony, will be developed. Experiments will be conducted to evaluate feasibility of the design concepts for each key components. Based on the results, design concepts of the engineering system to be built and tested in Phase II will be developed.