---
title: "NASA Unveils SPEARS Solid-State Batteries Capable of Enduring Lunar Freezes Down to −170 °C"
description: "As part of the SPEARS project, NASA demonstrated solid-state batteries that successfully passed thermal-vacuum tests at temperatures from +100 to −170 °C without damage. The technology aims to power lunar rovers and astronaut emergency kits in conditions where lithium-ion batteries fail."
date: 2026-10-18T11:39:09.556Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nasa-spears-solid-state-batteries-moon
tags: [nasa, solid-state-battery, lunar-mission, space-technology, spear, energy-storage]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# NASA Unveils SPEARS Solid-State Batteries Capable of Enduring Lunar Freezes Down to −170 °C

![A NASA employee in protective gloves holding a prototype SPEARS solid-state battery in a laboratory](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/nasa-spears-tverdotelnye-batarei-luna/nasa-spears-tverdotelnye-batarei-luna-1.webp)

## Key Points

- NASA's SPEARS project uses a solid ceramic or polymer electrolyte instead of a liquid one, eliminating freezing and evaporation in a vacuum
- Thermal-vacuum tests confirmed stable cell operation at −60 °C and reduced performance down to −80 °C; cells survived cycling from +100 to −170 °C without damage
- Returning the battery to operational mode after dormancy requires only a brief activation of a low-power heater, removing the need for massive thermal control systems
- Ames Research Center is preparing flight hardware for space tests; the technology is also being explored for electric vehicles, drones, and portable communications on Earth

NASA's Langley Research Center has completed another phase of thermal-vacuum testing for the SPEARS (Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space) project—solid-state batteries designed for operation in the extreme conditions of the lunar surface, where temperatures during the lunar night drop to −200 °C. Prototype cells demonstrated stable operation in the range from +80 °C to −60 °C, and with slightly reduced performance down to −80 °C. The most significant result was that the power cells survived cyclic exposure to temperatures from +100 °C to −170 °C without any structural damage, paving the way for their use in applications where traditional batteries simply cannot function.

### Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Cannot Survive on the Moon

Classic liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries are practically useless in lunar conditions. The liquid in the electrolyte freezes during the lunar night and can boil in a vacuum, leading to the destruction of the cell's internal structure and loss of capacity. For a lunar rover entering permanently shadowed craters or for an astronaut's emergency life-support kit, where every gram of mass and every watt of power are critical, such instability is unacceptable. That is why the SPEARS team opted to replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid ceramic or polymer material that is not subject to phase transitions within the operating temperature range.

### Thermal-Vacuum Testing: Numbers and Achievements

Yi Lin, SPEARS testing lead at Langley Research Center, reported that the current stage has proven cell operability at −80 °C, with plans to expand the range further. According to recent thermal-vacuum tests, prototypes steadily delivered their rated power at +80 °C and maintained nominal mode down to −60 °C; below this threshold, performance decreased, but the cells continued to function down to −80 °C. Crucially, the solid-state electrolyte neither freezes nor evaporates in a vacuum, and returning the battery to full operation after prolonged dormancy only requires briefly turning on a built-in low-power heater. This eliminates the need for massive, energy-intensive constant thermal control systems previously required to keep lithium-ion batteries operational.

### Flexible 'Chemistry' for Specific Tasks

“We can tune the chemistry through the choice of electrode materials,” explained Yi Lin. “Just as the chemistry in headphones differs from that in a phone, and that from a car, all these electrochemistries can work with a solid electrolyte. You can optimize the cell for energy, power, or longevity.” This approach allows batteries to be engineered for a specific mission: a rover requiring maximum capacity for a multi-day route and an emergency kit where peak power in the first seconds is critical will use different combinations of electrode materials while sharing the solid electrolyte.

### Path to Space Testing and Terrestrial Prospects

In parallel with the work at Langley, NASA's Ames Research Center is developing the flight hardware required to prepare SPEARS for orbital and ultimately lunar testing. The technology is also being considered for commercial terrestrial applications: from electric vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles to portable communication devices operating in Arctic and high-altitude conditions. If the SPEARS program successfully completes space validation, solid-state batteries could become the standard power source for all lunar infrastructure—from scientific stations to vehicles operating in conditions where no existing energy source can withstand repeated diurnal temperature swings.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [В NASA создали твердотельные батареи для Луны, работающие при −80 °C](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/10/17/v-nasa-sozdali-tverdotelnye-batarei-dlia-luny-rabotaiushhie-pri-80-c.html) - All key figures (temperature ranges, project name SPEARS, lead's name Yi Lin, Langley and Ames centers) are taken directly from the source text. No additional contradictions were found.

## FAQ

### What is the SPEARS project and who develops it?

SPEARS (Solid Power for Extreme Environment Adaptability and Resilience in Space) is a NASA project to create solid-state batteries for extreme space conditions. Main testing is conducted at Langley Research Center, while flight hardware for space tests is developed by Ames Research Center.

### What temperatures did the SPEARS battery prototypes withstand?

Stable operation has been confirmed in the range from +80 °C to −60 °C, with slightly reduced performance down to −80 °C. The cells also survived exposure to temperatures from +100 °C to −170 °C without structural damage.

### Why are traditional lithium-ion batteries unsuitable for the Moon?

The liquid electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries freezes at lunar night temperatures and can boil in a vacuum, destroying the cell's internal structure. The SPEARS solid-state electrolyte is not subject to these phase transitions.

### Will SPEARS batteries be used on Earth?

Yes, the technology is being considered for commercial terrestrial applications, including electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and portable communication devices operating in extreme temperature conditions.