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Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
High specific energy, low-temperature power systems would allow space exploration missions to do more science over longer periods, farther from the sun. This proposal is for the first year of a two-year project to ultimately space test a new low-temperature capable, battery/ultra-capacitor power system. This innovation would reduce the mass of power systems, eliminate the need for wasteful battery heaters, and increase the amount of energy available at low-temperatures. The first year of the project would be the development and ground test of the power system and the development of a CubeSat to carry the experimental system into orbit.
Together, these two technologies represent an attractive and important improvement in space power systems, with applications in many of NASA's future missions. Adding these two technologies as options for spaceflight will give NASA the flexibility to explore farther and do more than can be done with current technology.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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