Operational Experience with Nickel-Hydrogen and Lithium-Ion batteries

Kurzfassung

In this work we discuss about the two widely used energy storage systems in space applications namely, Lithium–Ion (Li-Ion) and Nickel Hydrogen (NiH2) batteries. A few of the satellite missions operated by the German Space Operations Centre (GSOC) is used in this work for case study. The NiH2 batteries have been a part of energy storage applications for over two decades and have a very good track record for their reliability and performance. These batteries are still one of the much preferred energy storage system for satellites. The TET–1 (called "Technologie Erprobungs Träger" in German) was launched in 2012 is among the newer generation of satellites which is powered by NiH2 batteries. Even after having experienced some problems shortly before launch, the batteries are performing excellently. We have discussed some of those issues and their solutions. The use of Li–Ion chemistry in satellites is quite new but over the last decade has proved its reliability in several deep-space as well as low earth orbit missions operated by various space agencies worldwide. The operational experiences of the satellites TerraSAR–X (TSX, launched 2008) and TanDEM–X (TDX, launched 2010) are discussed to demonstrate the capabilities of the Li-Ion batteries. Although, the NiH2 chemistry is still widely used, our operational experience shows that the Li–Ion technology might power the majority of future spacecrafts.