NASA researchers have successfully tested a solid-state battery designed to endure the brutal cold of the Moon’s South Pole. The experimental cells survived temperatures dropping to minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit without damage, offering a potential power source for future Artemis missions and eventual terrestrial electric vehicles.
Conventional lithium-ion batteries rely on liquid electrolytes to move charged particles between electrodes. On Earth, those systems power everything from smartphones to passenger cars, but they hit a wall in deep space. Cool a standard battery to the extreme conditions found near the lunar south pole, where nighttime lows plummet to minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit, and the internal liquid freezes. Heat it toward daytime highs of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or expose it to the vacuum of space, and the liquid evaporates or causes operational failure.
SPEARS Battery Testing at NASA Langley and Glenn Research Center
To overcome these environmental hazards, a team developed an alternative approach called Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space, or SPEARS. Instead of flammable liquids, the experimental prototype cells substitute a solid ceramic or polymer material. Researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia subjected these coin-cell prototypes to rigorous thermal vacuum testing to determine how well they withstand severe environments.
We proved for the first time that these cells can work down to minus 80 degrees Celsius.
Yi Lin, SPEARS testing and research lead at NASA Langley
During those tests, the small cells operated successfully across a range from minus 60 to 80 degrees Celsius. While power generation dropped when the cells were cooled to the absolute lower limit of minus 80 degrees Celsius, the solid-state design prevented internal freezing damage. Separate survival tests demonstrated that the batteries could endure complete thermal sweeps ranging from 100 degrees Celsius down to minus 170 degrees Celsius without sustaining structural harm.
Solid-State Cells Reduce Thermal Hardware for Lunar Missions
The ability to survive deep cold without continuous heating changes the engineering calculus for lunar architecture. Spacecraft and rovers typically require heavy, power-consuming thermal control systems to keep batteries warm throughout the long lunar night. With solid-state cells that remain undamaged by extreme freezes, future missions could use small, on-demand heating elements to bring cells back to operating temperatures only when power is needed.
Donald Dornbusch, principal investigator for SPEARS, noted the broad necessity of reliable energy storage for space exploration. batteries are a crucial part of our lives, and on the Moon, they must operate reliably and safely
Dornbusch said, adding that lunar operations will require the same reliability in a harsh setting.
Researchers can also adjust the internal chemistry of the batteries by selecting different electrode materials to prioritize energy capacity, power output, or long-term durability depending on the assignment. NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley is developing test boards and electronics to prepare the hardware for actual spaceflight testing. Potential applications span drills used in shadowed craters, emergency life-support packs, long-duration rovers, and scientific instruments deployed during NASA’s Artemis program.
Space-Rated Technology Offers Commercial Potential for Terrestrial Devices
Although the technology currently exists only as small laboratory prototypes that have not yet flown in space, analysts point to significant commercial possibilities on Earth. Space-rated solid-state technology could eventually translate into commercial terrestrial applications by enhancing safety, temperature tolerance, and efficiency for consumer electronics, commercial drones, cell phones, and grid-scale energy storage systems in harsh climates.
For the automotive sector, adapting solid-state breakthroughs could theoretically solve range degradation issues in electric vehicles during frigid winter months. Ji Su from the Langley team notes that the chemistry’s modular nature allows tuning for varied uses.
