High Energy Density Rechargeable Batteries for Aerospace Power Requirements.

In light of power requirements for search missions the rechargeable battery and fuel cell technologies that are expected to be available for these missions are identified, and areas of technology development that will be required for each energy storage system are indicated. The general conclusions are that the nickel cadmium and nickel hydrogen battery systems will be able to satisfy the space power needs through the early 1990s, after which a significantly higher energy density system will be required, particularly for geosynchronous and mid-altitude orbit missions. The sodium sulfur battery is the only system projected to meet the requirements of the most power intensive missions that are expected to operate in higher orbits by the mid-1990s. For low earth orbit missions the nickel hydrogen battery system is expected to provide the required power levels, except in situations where very high peak power levels are required. The hydrogen oxygen regenerative fuel cell is best suited to satisfying the high peak power needs in large power systems, but must undergo significant development to obtain the needed system life.