Product category: Batteries and Chargers
News Release from: Saft Space and Defence Batteries | Subject: VES140S Li-ion cells
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 18 December 2006

Li-ion cells set to
fly in Russian satellite

Saft has made an important breakthrough in the Russian aerospace market by winning a contract to supply Li-ion batteries to power Roskosmos' new Meteor-3M satellite

Saft has made an important breakthrough in the Russian aerospace market by winning a contract from FSUE 'RISDE', Federal State Unitary Enterprise 'Russian Institute of Space Device Engineering', to supply the rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that will power Roskosmos' new Meteor-3M LEO (low earth orbit) meteorological satellite.

The contract is the first result of a strategic long-term partnership agreement, signed by Saft and FSUE 'RISDE' in 2005, for the joint development, manufacture and supply of advanced power supply systems for Russia's space programme.

Meteor-3M is the first Russian satellite to use Saft batteries.

NPP VNIIEM (the Research and Production Enterprise 'All-Russian Scientific and Research Institute of Electromechanics') is the prime developer of the Meteor-3M satellite on behalf of Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency).

The spacecraft will be launched into a LEO, where it will carry out global meteorological observations of the Earth's atmosphere and underlying surface.

FSUE 'RISDE' is the VNIIEM subcontractor for development of onboard systems for Meteor-3M satellite including the Power Supply System (PSS) under consideration.

The goal to enhance the new satellite's performance is driving FSUE 'RISDE' to introduce advanced and innovative technologies into satellite design.

The onboard electronic systems on the Meteor-M satellite will draw up to 1.35kW of power.

Normally, this will be supplied directly from the solar panels.

However, the nature of the LEO mission means that there will be several periods each day when the panels will be 'eclipsed' by the Earth, with no direct sunlight.

During these periods the onboard batteries will have to fulfil the demanding role of providing sufficient power to ensure the satellite's continued uninterrupted operation.

To meet this requirement, Saft and FSUE 'RISDE' are working together to develop an integrated power supply system based on Saft Li-ion batteries in combination with FSUE 'RISDE' electronic monitoring and management systems.

In addition to meeting the stringent performance criteria, joint design to cost approach will enable the complete system to be supplied within the target cost.

The battery system will comprise three Li-ion battery modules, each consisting of 12 VES140SA Li-ion cylindrical cells.

The VES cells are manufactured in Saft's industrial factory in Bordeaux, France and will be integrated into the power supply system and tested at Saft's facility In Poitiers, France.

The Meteor-3M project is further evidence of the growing trend within the satellite industry towards using Saft's advanced Li-ion battery technology instead of nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2).

Saft's VES140S Li-ion cells are qualified by both ESA and CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) for all satellite applications and they have already established flight experience in a number of GEO satellite, spacecraft and launch vehicle applications.

One of the main advantages of Li-ion battery technology is its capability to store the same amount of energy as a Ni-H2 battery in a smaller package, offering a weight saving of around 50%.

A further benefit of Li-ion technology is its low self-discharge characteristics, which enable the Meteor-3M batteries to retain around 99% of their charge even after a month of storage.

So, they do not need recharging while the satellite is on the launch pad, unlike Ni-H2 batteries that require charging until the last few hours before launch.

This simplifies prelaunch management once the satellite is installed in the launch vehicle, as well as reducing the safety and thermal issues associated with battery charging. Request a free brochure from Saft Space and Defence Batteries....

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