NASA’s New Project: Developing Batteries That Can Withstand the Moon’s −170-Degree Cold

These batteries use solid electrolytes and are currently able to withstand temperature swings from 100 to −170 degrees Celsius.

These batteries have solid electrolyte and currently have the ability to withstand temperature fluctuations from 100 to -170 degrees Celsius.

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NASA is developing a new technology to make lunar batteries that can withstand the extreme cold of the moon's south pole. The night temperature in this area reaches minus 200 degrees Celsius. The electricity needed by astronauts, lunar vehicles and scientific equipment is supposed to be provided with these batteries.

This project is called "Stable Power for Adaptability and Flexibility to Extreme Environments in Space" or "SPEARS". Its goal is to develop safe and reliable batteries to support the long-term presence of humans on the Moon in the Artemis program.

Conventional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte. This liquid freezes in extreme cold and may damage the battery. Extreme heat also impairs battery performance. It is also possible to evaporate the liquid electrolyte under vacuum conditions.

SPEARS project batteries use solid ceramic or polymer electrolyte instead of liquid. This design makes it possible to withstand harsher temperature conditions.

In recent tests at NASA's Langley Research Center, prototypes performed well up to 80 degrees Celsius. Their performance was also decent at -60 degrees, but at -80 degrees, the performance of the batteries decreased slightly.

The tests also showed that the batteries were not permanently damaged after exposure to extremely variable temperatures, from 100 to minus 170 degrees Celsius. Of course, batteries do not work alone in extreme cold of minus 170 degrees. To restart, they must be brought up to operating temperature with small heaters.

This feature reduces the need for heavy heat control systems in spacecraft and lunar habitats. As a result, the design of the equipment becomes lighter and it is possible to reduce the costs and increase the duration of the missions.

Researchers can also tune the batteries to provide more energy, higher power, or longer life by changing the electrode materials.

Possible applications for these batteries include drilling tools in dark lunar craters, lunar vehicles, emergency power packs for astronauts, and long-term scientific equipment. SPEARS technology may also be used on Earth. Cars, mobile phones, communication equipment and drones are among its possible applications.