High efficiency batteries for space applications

Status today
European launcher industry is moving into the advancement of electrification of equipment (e.g. valves, pumps). The peak power consumption and/or the mission duration of those equipment’s drive the battery design and consequently the structural mass. Trade-offs to simplify functional architectures (e.g. for valves) can be constrained by battery limits.

Opportunity
Modern management technologies developed/under development by SME’s might significantly improve the usable power and/or energy densities of batteries at lower cost. Those management systems (BMS) can be tailored for single and/or multi-use batteries. Application of COTS technology within launchers might be analysed by the respective SME’s.

Potential Application
An application might be a demonstrator flying aboard a micro-launcher or aboard the Ariane 6 kick stage. Furthermore, a more electric low cost micro-launcher (with electric-pumps) with high power density batteries might serve as a use case.

Scalability
The scalability is very broad. All spacecraft have the need for electric energy stored in batteries and hence, efficient management systems.

Modern management technologies developed/under development by SME’s might significantly improve the usable power and/or energy densities of batteries at lower cost. Those management systems (BMS) can be tailored for single and/or multi-use batteries. Application of COTS technology within launchers might be analysed by the respective SME’s.

An application might be a demonstrator flying aboard a micro-launcher or aboard the Ariane 6 kick stage. Furthermore, a more electric low cost micro-launcher (with electric-pumps) with high power density batteries might serve as a use case.