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ICE CHILL, a novel integrated battery module/battery management system
(BMS) and demonstrate its capability to enable passive Li-ion battery hibernation through the lunar
night with zero excess degradation caused by freezing the cells. We will deliver a cryogenically
operable battery management system, a 28V/15Ah battery module that can passively survive the
lunar night, and a comprehensive Li-ion battery hibernation protocol for other future designs to
follow. ICE CHILL builds upon past Center Innovation Fund (CIF) research projects, where we
demonstrated that commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Li-ion cells and control electronics can
survive a single lunar night without degradation.
The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program was
always envisioned as a service providing resources for more than one lunar day. Indeed, the third
Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM-3) call will have a
threshold survival of two lunar days, with survival through a lunar night for any payload provider
respondents. ICE CHILL directly addresses the near term needs for CLPS landers to survive
the lunar night by providing lunar night survivable battery systems for energy storage needs.
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This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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