Powered by Lithium-Ion Batteries, NASA Spacecraft Explore Mars and the Moon

摘要

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander landed safely near the planet's north polar icecap in May. Phoenix relies on advanced lithium-ion batteries from Yardney Technical Products to dig and look for water, seeking a habitable environment. The Phoenix batteries provide power at night when there is no sunlight for the solar panels to convert to electricity. They can also be used any time when a task requires more power than the primary power source can deliver. NASA also had Yardney develop lithium-ion batteries for the Spirit Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and its twin, Opportunity. The spacecraft were launched in 2003 and landed in January 2004. They have been very successful, permitting missions exploring Mars that had been planned to last only three months, to instead be extended to more than four years and counting.