NITE Lunar Night Survival System
Masten Space Systems
Heat and power system enabling landers and payloads to survive the lunar night — autonomously activates via metal oxidation, extends mission life by at least 12 months.
Technical specifications
- Minimum temperature addressed
- -232°C (-387°F)
- Minimum mission extension
- 12 months
- Activation
- Autonomous, temperature-threshold triggered
- Power source
- Metal oxidation using propellant margin
About
The NITE (Nighttime Independent Thermal Energy) system delivers heat and power via metal oxidation to keep landers and payloads alive through the two-week lunar night, when temperatures can drop below -232°C. The system autonomously activates below a set temperature threshold, drawing on propellant margin from the lander’s propulsion system, and is designed to extend mission life by at least 12 months beyond what would otherwise be possible with battery power alone.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
