ESI Motion has announced SatBat, a new battery designed for low Earth orbit spacecraft. SatBat integrates a heating and battery management system, aiming to improve energy storage and management in orbital environments.
The battery leverages ESI Motion’s expertise in radiation tolerant electronics and power management. It delivers high power density, thermal stability and advanced battery control, setting the standard in space systems.
SatBat weighs half as much as typical lithium-ion space batteries and offers twice the usable capacity and operational life. After a four-year LEO mission, it retains 98 percent of its original payload.
“SatBat represents a quantum leap in spacecraft energy technology,” said Earnie Beem, president and CTO at ESI Motion. “As satellite constellations in Low Earth Orbit continue to grow, SatBat provides the reliability, performance and scalability needed to power the next generation of commercial and government missions.”
Key technical features include high energy density, comprehensive diagnostics, autonomous protection, health monitoring, radiation tolerance and a scalable, modular design. SatBat adapts to CubeSats, smallsats and large satellite platforms.
SatBat’s heating allows charging and discharging at minus 30 degrees Celsius without damage. Optional features include telemetry, integrated DC-DC conversion and internal charging. Battery efficiency reduces payload mass and launch costs, optimizing the power available for missions.
SatBat aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce launch mass and extend mission life for operators in the growing LEO satellite sector.
