NASA solid-state battery survives -170°C cold for lunar missions

NASA tested a solid-state battery prototype that withstood temperatures down to -170°C without damage and operated at -80°C. The SPEARS project technology is aimed at powering lunar rovers and instruments near the Moon's South Pole, but the cells remain lab prototypes.

• Battery survived -170°C to +100°C without damage
• Operating range was -60°C to +80°C
• Cells worked at -80°C with reduced performance
• SPEARS project began in 2026; no spaceflight testing yet