NASA chose a project to serve the mission of space exploration

Energy systems for space missions are quite diverse depending on mission characteristics and implementation time. It can be listed as batteries commonly used for short-term missions, photovoltaic panels for missions that explore the inner layer of the solar system, nuclear generators for missions outside Mars or need more power. amount and fuel cell for manned spacecraft.

However, when space exploration begins to divert to Jupiter, comets and icy moons of Jupiter, the spacecraft or self-propelled vehicles will need energy systems. new. To meet this demand, NASA recently awarded four advanced energy technology development projects for future unmanned and unmanned missions.

Held under the Game Changing Development program managed by NASA's Langley Research Center, four projects submitted from four different units are aimed at developing energy storage / production systems with High stability and can maintain operation in harsh conditions during the mission implementation. These projects include:

• The battery uses silicon anodes for specific high-energy systems - the project of Amprius, Inc. in Sunnyvale, California.
• Lithium-Sulfur batteries with long life and high energy density for space applications - a project of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.
• Innovative, high-energy, rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur batteries - Indiana University project in Bloomington, Indiana.
• Garnet safe, electrolytic lithium-Sulfur energy storage system - University of Maryland project at College Park, Maryland.

Each prize is divided into 3 phases: Phase 1 is the period of analysis and testing of the 8-month system component, each project is funded with 250,000 USD. Phase 2 is the technical development phase of a hardware unit with a maximum funding of 1 million USD for 1 year. Phase 3 will develop complete hardware prototypes with a maximum funding of $ 2 million each in 18 months.

Model of 3kW fuel cell

Projects were submitted by NASA centers, federal-funded R&D centers, universities and companies in the space industry. In addition, NASA is working closely with the US Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) and many partners to accelerate the process of developing energy storage technology solutions. for future human involvement missions and automation.

Michael Gazanik, senior administrator of space technology at NASA, said: " NASA's advanced space technologies don't stop with spacecraft hardware and equipment. Storage technology New energy will be an essential element for future deep space exploration whether it is missions to study celestial bodies, Mars or further. This is why we are invest in this important technology field ".