Skin panel with an energy-storing layer for an aircraft or spacecraft and method for manufacturing an energy-storing layer for a skin panel

An aircraft or spacecraft comprising a functional skin with a plurality of skin panels, each skin panel having an energy-storing layer, and each skin panel comprising:

• structural layers for providing structural stability to the skin panel, at least one of the structural layers forming an exterior supporting layer of the skin panel and at least one of the structural layers forming an interior supporting layer of the skin panel, wherein at least the exterior supporting layer of the structural layers comprises a fiber reinforced composite material;
• primary functional layers embedded between the exterior supporting layer and the interior supporting layer for providing functional capabilities to the skin panel;
• and
• one or more secondary functional layers, including an interior secondary functional layer abutting the interior supporting layer from inside;
• wherein the structural layers and the primary functional layers are formed together as a composite laminate;
• wherein the primary functional layers comprise the energy-storing layer, which is configured as a structural electro-chemical battery;
• and
• wherein the interior secondary functional layer comprises at least one of an electrical connector, an electronic display, an electronic interface and a computing device, being electrically powered by the energy-storing layer.