NASA develops batteries to power humanity's return to moon
If you've ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That's why NASA researchers are working to develop a battery that could function in the brutal cold of the moon's south pole, where nighttime temperatures plunge to minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 200 degrees Celsius).
NASA is developing innovative batteries for lunar missions, specifically for the harsh conditions on the moon's south pole. These batteries, part of the Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space (SPEARS) project, are designed to function in extreme cold and heat. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, SPEARS batteries use solid ceramic- or polymer-based materials, which prevent freezing during lunar night temperatures of minus 328 Fahrenheit (minus 200 Celsius) and can withstand daytime temperatures of 212 Fahrenheit (100 Celsius).
During thermal vacuum testing, SPEARS battery cells operated effectively from minus 80 Celsius (minus 112 Fahrenheit) to 176 Fahrenheit (80 Celsius). These batteries could power everything from emergency kits and rovers to scientific instruments on the moon, offering advantages like immediate warmth and reduced fire hazards. NASA researchers are optimistic about the potential of SPEARS batteries to power human presence on the moon through the Artemis campaign, with applications extending to Earth-based devices as well.
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