Enersys said its its ABSL lithium-ion space battery was on board the successful launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft on 14 October from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.
The mission, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket, will explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, to investigate its potential for supporting life. It will cover 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion km) to reach Jupiter in April 2030.
The space battery will power the spacecraft’s flight and scientific instrumentation. It consists of three 8s72p modules connected in parallel, providing over 540Ah capacity through a 28V system. It will perform various charge and discharge cycles throughout the mission’s duration. The battery was specifically designed to minimise magnetic interference with the spacecraft, the company said.
It is capable of deep discharge cycles, long lifespan, and can withstand extreme vibrations. The battery technology has been used in over 300 spacecraft and launch vehicles, according to the US company.
