Surface-to-surface laser wireless power transmission for lunar exploration: Prospects, challenges and perspectives

AbstractThe lunar polar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), abundant in volatile resources such as water ice, are pivotal for future lunar exploration and in-situ resource utilization. However, the persistent absence of sunlight within these regions renders conventional energy supply methods ineffective, presenting a major obstacle to sustained surface operations. In contrast to Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which are constrained by low specific power and high launch mass, or physical cables limited by rugged crater topography, Laser Wireless Power Transmission (LWPT) offers a flexible and lightweight alternative. This review specifically focuses on surface-to-surface LWPT architectures for lunar exploration, in which electrical power generated at illuminated lunar surface sites is transmitted by laser to receivers operating on the lunar surface within permanently shadowed or otherwise energy-deficient regions. Orbit-to-surface laser power transmission, although also relevant to future lunar energy systems, is beyond the scope of this review and is discussed only briefly to contextualize the broader development of space power beaming. With demonstrated energy densities exceeding 1 kW/m2 in ground tests, LWPT presents a compelling candidate for sustained power delivery to PSRs. Nevertheless, the extreme cold, intense radiation, and highly complex lunar dust plasma environment pose substantial challenges to the stability and reliability of LWPT systems. In response, advanced technical strategies—including thermal management, beam shaping, intelligent control, and material optimization—have been developed to improve system adaptability under these harsh conditions. Distinct from previous reviews that primarily focused on component-level metrics, this paper provides a systematic feasibility assessment of LWPT specifically tailored to surface deployment in lunar polar regions. We synthesize the multi-physics coupling impacts of these environmental factors on transmission performance and present quantitative link budgets for representative mission scenarios. The results indicate that LWPT will catalyze a paradigm shift in lunar polar energy supply, enabling efficient, flexible, and large-scale power delivery for future lunar surface operations. The insights presented herein provide a robust theoretical foundation and technical reference for the development of next-generation energy systems for sustainable lunar surface infrastructure.