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NASA Moon battery: solid-state SPEARS cells built to survive the lunar South Pole cold

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A NASA Moon battery project called SPEARS has shown that small solid-state cells can work down to minus 80 C, the agency said this week. The aim is a safe battery for the Moon’s South Pole, where night temperatures fall to about minus 200 C.

NASA Moon battery: Yi Lin holds a SPEARS coin-cell battery after thermal vacuum testing
Yi Lin holds a SPEARS coin-cell battery after thermal vacuum testing Photo: NASA/Ryan Hill (public domain).

Why a NASA Moon battery must be solid-state

Ordinary lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes, which freeze in the lunar night, stop working in daytime heat of about 100 C and evaporate in a vacuum. SPEARS, short for Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space, replaces the liquid with a solid ceramic or polymer material that does not freeze. Engadget and Interesting Engineering also reported the results.

Key Facts

  • Project: SPEARS, led by NASA Glenn
  • Tested at: NASA Langley, Virginia
  • Works down to: minus 80 C
  • Survived: 100 C to minus 170 C
  • Lunar South Pole night: about minus 200 C

“We proved for the first time that these cells can work down to minus 80 degrees Celsius.”

— Yi Lin, SPEARS testing and research lead, NASA Langley

Langley Research Center test results

In thermal vacuum tests at Langley Research Center in Virginia, prototype cells worked well from 80 C down to minus 60 C, and with slightly lower performance at minus 80 C. After exposure to swings from 100 C to minus 170 C, the cells showed no damage. Small heaters would warm them up before use, which could reduce heavy thermal systems on landers and habitats.

Glenn Research Center leads the Artemis push

The project is led from NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where Donald Dornbusch is principal investigator, and began in 2026. NASA sees uses in drills for shadowed craters, rovers and emergency power packs for Artemis astronauts. Task lead Ji Su said the same technology could later serve cars, phones and drones on Earth. SPEARS grew out of an earlier battery project for aircraft, and a NASA Ames engineer also joined the testing.

Why It Matters: Power that survives the lunar night is one of the biggest hurdles for a long-term human presence on the Moon.

Also on TrendDesh: Griffin-1 Moon lander clears shake, roar and vacuum tests at NASA JPL ahead of launch · Perseverance driving record: NASA rover beats Opportunity with 28.10 miles on Mars

Source: NASA · Engadget · Interesting Engineering

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