Advances in the development of batteries for aerospace

Since the launch of Russia's Sputnik-1 satellite on October 4, 1957, the aerospace industry has been obsessed with a endless hunger for more mass and volume efficient power storage systems for its orbital spacecraft. Mass and volume aboard these spacecraft are at a premium with costs reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram (kg) of launched mass. Over the years, the launcher industry has steadily increased its capacity for propelling more and more mass into orbit. While there is still a major emphasis on scientific exploration of space, there are a growing number of commercial spacecraft which are being placed into orbit strictly for the purpose of generating revalues. For these programs, increased time on orbit means increased revenues. With less of the overall mass and volume budget spent on power storage, longer spacecraft orbital lifetimes can be achieved by increasing the amount of fuel carried onboard. Increased time on orbit can, in turn be translated into a need for more advanced power storage systems with even longer cycle lire capabilities.