Lithium-ion batteries for space

This paper presents the experience gained in building and supplying Lithium-ion batteries made from small Lithium-ion cells. This paper will show how Europe's lead in Lithium-ion technology has benefited European missions and is now being adopted for North American missions. This paper will include a brief review of the concept that differs from the traditional way of connecting cells together to make batteries. So far, this concept has been employed to supply batteries to eighteen spacecraft largely for European missions, including several ESA cornerstone missions. Although Lithium-ion technology is well known to cell and battery manufacturers through the terrestrial market, the Prime contractors are less familiar with its benefits and limitations. This paper includes a discussion of the lessons learnt from recent experience.