GS Yuasa Lithium Power Inc. is designing lithium-ion batteries for the International Space Station. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, (PWR), a producer and designer of rocket engines, appointed the company to replace the current batteries on the space station.
At present nickel-metal hydride batteries power it but PWR is to replace the existing batteries with GY Yuasa’s lithium-ion batteries.
GS Yuasa has recently developed the lithium-ion batteries (model: LSE134; rated capacity: 134Ah) specifically for the International Space Station’s power requirements. The energy density of the batteries is around three times higher than those of the nickel-metal hydride batteries currently used.
According to GS Yuasa the batteries are expected to power the International Space Station for more than a decade.