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This paper reports on the development and demonstration of a unique distributed Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) architecture developed for the PowerSphere concept. The PowerSphere PMAD concept was conceived as a solution for providing adequate electric power from solar cells to power a Micro-satellite or Nano-satellite. The PMAD architectural concept developed for the PowerSphere accommodates its arbitrary orientation by unique features. The architecture has all of the individual power sources and storage devices connected in parallel to a regulated spacecraft power bus. This parallel connection is accomplished via a microelectronic dc-dc converter for each power or storage device. This direct connection eliminates the need for series connections of these devices to produce sufficient voltage to supply the bus.

There are currently 132 nickel hydrogen (NiH2) cells on test in a low earth orbit (LEO) regime at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. There are also 10 NiH2 cells in a special pulse test at the Aerospace Corporation. The testing, which is sponsored by the Air Force Phillips Laboratory, began in 1987. The majority of the cells have over four years of real time LEO cycles. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the NiH2 low earth orbit life test plan and to present the current status of cells in the test.