Battery and fuel cells used in space and what’s its importance in space

In a year 2000 having 44th anniversary of space program due to launching first Sputnik on 4 October 1956. Tremendous success has been  made in the exploration of space since last 50years. They thankful to flexibility and capabilities of batteries. Where as NASA. And U.S air force should able to complete there mission successfully. Wide range of uses batteries and fuel cells in space application like lauch vehicles, earth Orbiting spacecraft,  space shuttle, astronaut equipment.

For all these mission batteries and fuel cells are used as primary source of energy. Space mission imposed several critical performance required on battery and fuel cells.

Uses of battery in space

Battery used in space application which is capable of operating in a hard vacuum and severe lunch environment like vibration, shock, and acceleration.

Space application are required batteries which can provide maximum electrical energy in minimum weight  and volume. Less then 30000 cycle is for operating critical orbiting spacecraft and for long active shelf life is driven for planetary probe is almost upto 7- 10 years.

For some planetary mission it requires the temperature is less then -80 degree celsius to radiation resistance and operations. There is no any single battery system for these complex requirements.

After that they uses number of different battery system like silver zinc, nickel cadmium,  nickel hydrogen, and lithium for the complex requirements of various mission. In short term the specific energy of battery should be increase in space.

What’s the structure of battery which should used for space? 

For space ses of should be custom design and fabricated according to there mission requirements.

Which battery is uses for specific for space application? 

The nickel cadmium battery is become the major energy storage device since next 20 years due to the region of long cycle life. After the nickel hydrogen playing same role in 80s. But in now a day people show there  intrest in using of lithium ion batteries due to it high specific energy and energy density.

Lets discuss one by one batteries which is used for space! 

Firstly Silver zinc batteries –  for current use of the battery for orbital spacecraft was silver zinc. This battery are used in Russian spacecraft, Sputnik,  it is launch in 4 october 1956.

This battery is primary use to provide the power for communication and spacecraft operations. In this no solar cells available for charging. That’s why when energy get depleted, the communication was terminated.

Next one is Nickel cadmium battery, first time the uses of nickel cadmium for primary power was on explore 6 which is only for 3 month. In April 1960, NASA will launch the first successful long term low earth orbit weather satellite. The long life of capability will achieved at the expenses of increasing battery size and cost.

However the first prismatic nickel cadmium cells is produce by Gulton Industry in November 1964. The construction of this is closed knit battery pack together with the end plates and metallic rod. They provided more efficient battery design then cylindrical cells.

Who develop the prismatic nickel cadmium cells? The general electric of Gainesville,  Florida, and Eagle picher company of Joplin, Missouri can develop and they successfully operate in space for many years.

So that the super Ni Cd cells develop by Eagle picher  have do work on to the enhance of Ni Cd of energy density and life.

Space application uses of battery and fuels

Many space application should required the batteries and fuels cells. The various government agencies should be develop the battery and fuel cells like NASA center and the U.S Navy. The uses of battery and fuel cells is in Rockets and lunch vechiles.

For Rocket battery are primary use for ignition of solid rocket motors.