SpaceX, a spacecraft manufacturer led by Elon Musk, will use LG Energy Solution Ltd.’s batteries for its next-generation Starship rocket in its first long-term battery purchase from a third-party company, according to industry sources on Sunday.
The US company has recently signed a contract with LG Energy for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries tailored to the Starship flight expected to be launched as early as 2025, the sources told The Korea Economic Daily.
They are said to be used for primary and backup power supply, as well as energy storage systems
Its supply size and value has not been disclosed.
LG Energy had previously supplied batteries for SpaceX’s spacecraft in one-off deals. SpaceX has relied heavily on self-made batteries for its flight vehicles.
But it has decided to turn to third-party manufacturers of high-safety batteries with a longer lifespan as the frequency of its rocket launch increases.
Starship is designed to be reusable like an airplane, which can be refueled and take off again after landing. In its first flight test in 2023, it was proved the most massive and most powerful as a vehicle ever to fly.
The supply contract with SpaceX will diversify LG Energy’s business beyond electric vehicle batteries and expand its partnership with companies led by Elon Musk. It supplies batteries to Tesla Inc., the world’s largest EV maker.
The South Korean company has picked space business as a new growth engine, developing batteries and energy storage systems suitable for spaceships and spacesuits.
In 2023, it supplied spacesuit batteries to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In 2025, it will also ship batteries for NASA’s lunar electric rover, a battery-powered rover used on the Moon.
Industry officials said the supply deals with SpaceX and Tesla would raise the chances of LG Energy being chosen as a battery supplier for Tesla’s humanoid robots capable of performing unsafe and repetitive tasks.
Asked about the possibility of its batteries being used for humanoid robots, LG Energy said: “We can’t confirm contracts with our customers.”
By Sang-hoon Sung and Hyung-Kyu Kim
uphoon@hankyung.com
Yeonhee Kim edited this article.
