NASA explains how it's making batteries for the Moon's extreme temperatures

NASA is providing new details about a project that aims to build batteries able to survive the harsh cold of space, with the Moon as the eventual destination. The work falls under the Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space project, known as SPEARS. The agency said the resulting technology could be used during future Artemis missions. The effort was outlined by NASA and reported by Engadget.

The batteries that power most electronics on Earth rely on liquid electrolytes, which can freeze at low temperatures and damage the battery. Those same batteries can also fail when temperatures climb too high, a problem familiar to anyone whose phone has shut down inside an overheated car. The Moon presents both extremes: daytime highs reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), while nighttime temperatures at the lunar south pole fall as low as minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 200 degrees Celsius). According to NASA, existing battery technology cannot handle those conditions.

The SPEARS project is developing a battery that uses a solid ceramic or polymer material in place of the liquid electrolyte. These alternative batteries still require warming to operate, but they have not been damaged by extreme cold so far. They also need less energy-intensive thermal management systems than lithium-ion batteries do. That reduced demand for heating and cooling support is a central part of what makes the design attractive for space use.

While the team is developing the batteries for the severe climates found on Mars, the same technology could someday power consumer devices on Earth. NASA published a blog post with further details on the project. The agency has not announced a timeline for when the batteries might fly or reach the commercial market. For now, SPEARS remains a development effort, and NASA has not said when it might move beyond that stage.

The project's focus on extreme environments reflects a broader challenge for battery designers, since materials that perform well in one temperature range often struggle in another. A solid ceramic or polymer design could sidestep the freezing problem that affects liquid electrolytes altogether. Whether that approach translates into hardware for the Artemis missions, or into products sold to US consumers, will depend on results NASA has not yet released.

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