en.Wedoany.com Reported - The "Spacebox" project, jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) through the project management agency DLR, will launch on June 1, 2026, with a duration of 30 months and funding of €2.6 million. The goal is to develop lightweight, high-energy-density lithium-sulfur battery energy storage systems for satellites. The project brings together three partners in Berlin: battery innovation company theion, the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin), and Space Structures GmbH.
The global satellite industry is expanding rapidly. The satellite market was valued at $15.68 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $46.79 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 17%. The small satellite segment alone is projected to grow from $6.05 billion in 2024 to $20.58 billion by 2032. Reliable, lightweight, and high-energy-density onboard energy storage has become one of the key technologies for this expansion.
The innovation of this project lies in combining three complementary strengths. theion contributes its crystalline lithium-sulfur technology, which aims to achieve significantly higher mass energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries, with a target energy density up to three times higher, while eliminating the use of nickel and cobalt and relying instead on sulfur, a widely available raw material. The Technical University of Berlin brings expertise in satellite development and modern onboard electronics, including miniaturized communication devices and solutions for integrating energy storage into spacecraft load-bearing structures, as already demonstrated in missions such as InnoCube. In "Spacebox," this expertise will be used to develop and integrate a battery management system (BMS) to ensure the safe and reliable operation of lithium-sulfur batteries under harsh space conditions. Space Structures GmbH provides proven expertise in lightweight structures and thermal design for space applications, developing and manufacturing high-performance primary structures for satellite platforms, payloads, and rideshare launch vehicles.
Dr. Ulrich Ehmes, CEO of theion, stated that the European space industry needs technologies that can improve performance while reducing weight, and lithium-sulfur batteries have the potential to play a significant role in this transformation. Through the "Spacebox" project, the three partners combine their capabilities in battery technology, satellite engineering, and lightweight structures to create a highly integrated energy storage solution for future space missions.
With "Spacebox," the three partners are creating a fully integrated approach for satellite battery modules: high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries, intelligent battery management, and structural lightweighting are designed as a system from the outset. For satellites, where every gram of weight directly impacts mission capability and launch costs, this combination opens up new possibilities for more efficient and powerful space systems, while strengthening Germany's role in advanced satellite power technology.
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