Moon Lighting: Illumination for Lunar Base Construction and Operations

Lunar bases will need lighting for exploration, construction, mining, industry, life support, operations, and maintenance. In many respects, lighting on the Moon will involve adaptations of familiar methods. Efficiency, robustness, and serviceability will be required. During the lunar day, sunlight is available using heliostats, lenses and light tubes. Some of these items can be used for distribution of artificial light as well. Illumination may be augmented by using transparent, translucent, light-colored or reflective walls and panels. Moon lighting presents special challenges, such as dust amelioration, heat management, and lavatube illumination. Spectrum manipulation can promote or inhibit living organisms, as desired. Using lunar resources to manufacture lighting equipment will save money over Earth sourcing, so designs should be compatible with lunar sourced components as these become available.