Solid-state prototype batteries developed by NASA researchers survived extreme cold down to minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit during thermal vacuum testing. The Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space project aims to power Artemis lunar missions without requiring continuous heating systems.
Traditional battery technology cannot survive the brutal cold on the Moon’s South Pole, where nighttime temperatures plunge to minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit. Standard lithium-ion power cells rely on liquid electrolytes that quickly freeze, rupture, or degrade in deep space conditions. NASA researchers at Glenn Research Center, Langley Research Center, and Ames Research Center partnered on the SPEARS initiative to solve this engineering challenge for future lunar operations. Donald Dornbusch serves as the principal investigator for SPEARS at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where the project is led.
Most electronics on Earth use lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. Exposing an unprotected liquid electrolyte to the vacuum of space causes it to evaporate. Noting that power cells are a fundamental element of daily existence, Donald Dornbusch pointed out that they must function safely and dependably in the lunar environment. To overcome these issues, SPEARS batteries swap out the liquid electrolyte in favor of a solid polymer- or ceramic-based substance.
Langley Research Center Tests Prove Extreme Cold Survival
Solid electrolytes do not freeze like liquids. The batteries can endure severe temperature swings without internal structural damage.
More importantly, survival tests showed the cells endured complete thermal cycles ranging from minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit without sustaining damage. The coin-cell prototypes successfully operated at temperatures as low as minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit and reached highs of 176 degrees Fahrenheit. Tests at the Langley Research Center demonstrated that these lunar batteries work effectively between minus 60 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius.
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
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Their solid-state design prevents internal freezing damage while the batteries cannot generate electrical power while sitting at their absolute coldest limit of minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit. Small onboard heating elements can warm the cells back up to operational temperatures exactly when power is required. Nike Lin acts as a support engineer and technician on the thermal vacuum team.
This operational strategy eliminates the need for massive, power-consuming thermal management equipment that must keep traditional batteries warm throughout the entire lunar night. Lighter thermal designs translate directly to lower mission costs, reduced spacecraft mass, and extended durations for rovers, drills, and emergency life-support packs.
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Yi Lin noted that researchers can tune the chemistry by using different electrode materials. Researchers can adjust internal battery chemistry by changing electrode materials to match specific mission requirements.
Space-rated solid-state technology could eventually enhance the safety, temperature tolerance, and charging speed of Earth-bound electronics. These include cell phones, commercial drones, grid-scale energy storage systems, and electric vehicles operating in frigid winter climates. For electric vehicles specifically, this battery breakthrough could, in theory, lead to longer ranges in colder climates and during frigid winter months.
Operating out of California’s Silicon Valley, NASA’s Ames Research Center is currently creating electronics and test boards to get the SPEARS batteries ready for space missions and evaluate their performance in space environments. Although the technology remains in the small laboratory prototype stage and has not yet been demonstrated in space, the agency continues preparing flight hardware and test boards for future spaceflight deployment.