Future Power Solutions for Exploring Hypothesized Surfaces – NASA Got Us “Psyched” Up

INSTITUTION

Arizona State University (ASU)

CLASS

Platinum Class (2025 – 2026)

STUDENT TEAM

ACADEMIC GUIDANCE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Future Power Solutions for Exploring Hypothesized Surfaces project aims to design power solutions that can provide power to surface spacecraft for future potential missions. NASA’s current Psyche mission aims to study the Psyche asteroid from orbit, but possible future missions may utilize surface spacecraft to study the asteroid from its surface. This project focus on the develop of a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS), which integrates lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors to meet both steady-state and transient power demands. The system is designed around a DC bus, where a DC-DC converter manages energy flow between the lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, PV array, and DC motor. This configuration allows the batteries to supply sustained energy while the supercapacitors respond to rapid changes in power demand, reducing stress on the battery and improving system reliability. By leveraging the high energy density of batteries and the rapid response of supercapacitors, the system improves overall efficiency, stability, and lifespan. The proposed design supports dynamic load conditions and provides a scalable solution for deep space surface missions.

This work was created in partial fulfillment of the Arizona State University Capstone Course “EEE 488.” The work is a result of the Psyche Student Collaborations component of NASA’s Psyche Mission (https://psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu). “Psyche: A Journey to a Metal World” [Contract number NNM16AA09C] is part of the NASA Discovery Program mission to solar system targets. Trade names and trademarks of ASU and NASA are used in this work for identification only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, by Arizona State University or National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ASU or NASA.