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Lighting

Encyclopedia
Updated Feb 1, 2024

Contents

Introduction

Understanding the lighting environment is critical to human spaceflight exploration as it directly impacts astronauts’ circadian rhythms, psychological well-being, and overall performance, necessitating tailored solutions to optimize mission success and crew health. Adding to the difficulties for NASA’s exploration missions, the lighting environment on the lunar south pole presents challenges due to the prolonged periods of darkness and extreme temperature variations, which can affect power generation from solar panels, communication systems, and the operational efficiency of lunar habitats and exploration equipment. JSC’s lighting team plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and functionality of current vehicles (International Space Station, Commercial Crew & Cargo and Orion) as well as future space vehicles. We provide internal and external lighting requirements verification, lamp and system lighting design, modeling and precise test and measurement of lighting and camera systems, as well as the simulation of orbital and planetary surface lighting environments. This comprehensive approach ensures that lighting systems meet the rigorous demands of space environments, contributing to the overall success and safety of space missions. We invite our partners to capitalize on our expertise in lighting environment analysis and solutions to expand humankind’s reach into our solar system. 

Capabilities

Operational Environment Lighting 

Overview | The Operational Environment Lighting Analysis team provides internal and external lighting requirements verification for the International Space Station (ISS), ISS commercial cargo and crewed vehicles, and Orion. The team also provides lamp and system lighting design, modeling, and test and measurement of lighting and camera systems in their unique lighting lab. 

Details | The Lighting Lab uses a controlled lighting facility with test equipment for measurement of spectral, radiometric, and photometric light properties. The Lighting Lab is a spacious facility with dimensions of 25’ W x 300’ L x 17’ H, including a dedicated dark room for controlled lighting & imaging tests. 

Testing & Analysis Services Available 

  • Interior / exterior lamp and system lighting design 
  • Lighting requirements development and verification 
  • Simulate orbital and planetary surface lighting environments 
  • Human anthropometric modeling analysis (volume, reach and clearance) 
  • Glare and shadow analysis 
  • Camera system testing with calibrated lights and solar simulator 

Software Modeling Tools 

  • Radiance: Radiometric and photometric architectural lighting simulation of interior / exterior spacecraft 
  • Zemax: Spectral optics & lamp development using anthropometric modeling & simulation 
  • Jack: Anthropometric human modeling and simulation 
  • Creo Parametric & Rhino: Processing of CAD models & model manipulation 
  • Dojo: Software organizer and database of models, materials and lights for modeling purposes 
Spectral Radiance Measurement of Light Source
Spectral Radiance Measurement of Light Source and Evaluation of Spectral Attenuation of Laser Safety Glasses
NASA
IES Light Intensity Distribution (Beam Pattern) Measurement of Lamp
IES Light Intensity Distribution (Beam Pattern) Measurement of Lamp
Interior view looking starboard (STBD) and aft in the Harmony Node 2, taken during the crew’s sleep period (main lights are turned off). Hatches into the Columbus European Laboratory and Destiny U.S. Laboratory are in view. The pink glow comes from the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) greenhouse, housed in Columbus.
Quantitative evaluation of light source by NBL diver during NBL Preliminary Lunar Lighting Evaluation
Mountains on the Moon On the Earth, we are taught that mountains form over millions of years, the result of gradual shifting and colliding plates. On the moon however, the situation is quite different. Even the largest lunar mountains were formed in minutes or less as asteroids and comets slammed into the surface at tremendous velocities, displacing and uplifting enough crust to create peaks that easily rival those found on Earth. On a few occasions in the past year, NASA has tilted the angle of LRO to do calibrations and other tests. In such cases the camera has the opportunity to gather oblique images of the lunar surface like the one featured here of Cabeus Crater providing a dramatic view of the moon’s mountainous terrain.

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