A review on design challenges and future opportunities of battery management system for low earth orbit nanosatellites

This review paper examines battery management system (BMS) for nanosatellites in low earth orbit, addressing a significant knowledge gap at the intersection of space power systems and battery technology. Through systematic analysis of 108 high-impact journal publications spanning 2010–2024, a comprehensive framework addressing nine critical design factors affecting BMS implementation is established. The review presents the first comprehensive classification of 50+ commercially available BMS integrated circuits across five functional categories (authentication, charger, fuel gauge, monitor/balancer, and protector) specifically evaluated for nanosatellite applications, offering valuable selection guidance for mission designers. Comparative analysis demonstrates that Kalman filter-based state of charge estimation methods achieve ± 3% accuracy across the − 40 to + 85 °C operational range, compared to ± 8% for open circuit voltage methods under thermal cycling conditions, while requiring only 2–5% of typical nanosatellite processing resources making the accuracy-computation trade-off favourable for mission-critical applications. The systematic framework reveals that lithium-ion batteries currently dominate nanosatellite applications, while significant opportunities exist in developing flexible, software-defined BMS architectures capable of in-orbit reconfiguration. Key findings emphasize the need for radiation-tolerant implementations, adaptive thermal management solutions, and simplified autonomous control algorithms suitable for resource-constrained platforms. This work provides essential guidance for researchers and engineers developing next-generation power systems for nanosatellite missions, with broader implications for advancing miniaturized space technology in challenging orbital environments.