Lithium-ion batteries for space using small cells

This paper describes a battery subsystem using small lithium-ion cells for satellite applications. This technology offers the potential for very large mass and volume savings over the conventional batteries that employ nickel hydrogen or nickel cadmium cells. Another innovation employed is the use of commercially available cells which are qualified and adapted for space application. It brings together the benefit of lower cost, proven design of cells and achieving high reliability (>0.995 over a 15 year mission) by judicious use of extra strings of cells and a minimum of electronics. The paper includes mechanical, electrical and thermal design as well as the qualification status of the cells and the battery subsystem.