LG Energy Solution to supply batteries for SpaceX‘s Starship

(MK database)

LG Energy Solution Ltd. will supply cylindrical batteries to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), the aerospace company led by Elon Musk, for use in future space missions.

Industry sources said on Sunday that LG Energy Solution received a request from SpaceX to develop and deliver power supply batteries for its spacecraft, with the South Korean company reportedly providing SpaceX with its 2170 cylindrical batteries (21 mm in diameter, 70 mm in length) for several years. The upgraded lithium-ion batteries that are currently being developed are expected to power SpaceX’s next-generation Starship launch vehicle, which is set for a 2025 release.

SpaceX’s flagship rocket, the Starship, is being designed to enable exploration of the Moon and Mars, with SpaceX completing its fifth successful orbital test flight for the vehicle in October 2024. Musk envisions Starship as a vehicle that could facilitate human migration to Mars, while it is also expected to play a role in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Industry insiders note that LG Energy Solution’s cylindrical battery technology has proven its competitive edge in space, where high-quality standards are crucial. LG Energy Solution is also set to supply its 4680 cylindrical batteries (46 mm in diameter, 80 mm in length) to Tesla Inc., also led by Musk, with production slated to begin at its plant in Korea as early as December 2024, signaling a further expansion in Musk-led partnerships.

LG Energy Solution is increasingly focusing on broadening its non-EV business by diversifying its customer and product portfolio as the slowdown in the electric vehicle market continues.