Objective:

• Advance the Nickel-Hydrogen (Ni-H₂) technology to yield longer battery life, lower weight, higher reliability, and reduced cost.

Approach:

• Incorporate advanced components and design options into the state-of-the-art (SOA) battery
• Acquire data-base on the baseline and advanced designs through testing
• This effort is conducted with battery manufacturers, advanced component vendor, and NASA Glenn.

Mars Global Surveyor Battery (16-Ah CPV Ni-H₂)

Features:

• Advanced thermal management
• Lightweight nickel electrode
• Low cost
• Long cycle life

Advantages:

• 2X the specific energy of the SOA Individual Pressure Vessel (IPV) Ni-H₂
• Common Pressure vessel (CPV) has 30% volume reduction as compared to IPV Ni-H₂
• Long cycle life at deep depths-of-discharge (DOD)
  • 10 years LEO at 60% DOD, 15 years GEO at 80% DOD
• Advantageous for high power missions

Applications:

• For future space missions:
  • LEO
  • GEO
  • Planetary Orbiters
  • Landers
• For ground:
  • Commercial consumer spinoffs - lawnmowers, computers, electric vehicles

[Power & On-Board Propulsion Technology Division]
[NASA Privacy Policy ]  [NASA Disclaimer]  [NASA Accessibility]

For more information, please contact NASA Responsible Official: Michelle A. Manzo, Chief, Electrochemistry Branch (216-433-5261)
Web Curator: Dawn Jenkins SGT, Inc.
* an asterisk indicates an external link
Last Updated: 11/07/2002