A 35-GHz rectenna array with non-uniform subarray for lunar crater detectors

Craters, as the most typical and common landforms and geological structures on the lunar surface, can be used to power rovers within these craters. During its orbital trajectory, the lunar orbiter remotely powers multiple crater rovers, ensuring uninterrupted operation. This method has two advantages: first, it facilitates powering rovers within craters; second, millimeter-wave power transmission can effectively reduce antenna size and transportation costs. This paper investigates the technical challenges of high-efficiency reception and high-power, high-efficiency conversion of space-based millimeter waves. A rectified antenna array was developed, operating at 35 GHz with dimensions of 15 cm × 15 cm, and all elements exhibiting a rectification efficiency greater than 55%. When the antenna power density is 8 mW/cm 2 , the output power of the rectified antenna array exceeds 600 mW, with an efficiency greater than 40%. This provides direct theoretical and technical support and engineering reference for long-distance, high-power millimeter-wave power transmission systems in lunar orbit.