Satellite powered by rechargeable batteries
A Saft Space and Defence Batteries product story
Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Apr 24, 2007
A freshly launched low earth orbit satellite is the first to be powered by Saft's commercially available space-qualified MP 176065 rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
Agile, the Italian Space Agency's high-energy astrophysics mission, has launched a PSLV rocket from the Sriharikota base in India.
it is the first LEO (low earth orbit) satellite to be powered by Saft's commercially available space-qualified MP 176065 rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
Agile's near equatorial orbit, at a distance of 550km from the Earth is a particularly demanding application for the on-board battery system, as it will be charged and discharged over a constantly repeating 100 minute cycle, with no rest periods, throughout a two-year mission.
Agile is based on a MITA class enhanced platform provided by CGS' as the leading contractor working in partnership with Oerlikon-Contraves Space, Alcatel-Alenia Space, and Telespazio.
"The successful launch of Agile with our space-qualified MP Li-ion cells is an important breakthrough for Saft within the LEO market as it confirms our capability to use these standard, commercially available modules to deliver very cost-effective on-board battery solutions that ensure the performance and reliability of the satellite's secondary power supply" Philippe Jehanno, General Manager of Saft's Space and Defense Division.
Agile is the only European mission entirely devoted to high-energy astrophysics studies.
It will operate as a gamma ray and hard x-ray observatory to survey the celestial sphere and to identify gamma ray bursts and unidentified galactic sources, diffuse galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray emissions.
It could help scientists to understand astrophysics phenomena such as supernovas, neutron stars, compact stars, massive black holes and gamma-ray energetic bursts that reach the Earth from remote regions of the universe.
The Saft battery system will work in conjunction with Agile's solar array to provide the electrical power for the satellite's on-board electronics, ranging from 200W up to a peak load of 460W.
When the solar array is fully exposed to the sun it will provide the satellite's power as well as charging the batteries.
When the solar array is 'eclipsed' by the earth, with no direct sunlight, the batteries will power the satellite.
This charge and discharge cycle will be repeated approximately every 90 minutes - the time Agile takes to complete one Earth orbit.
The battery system comprises 24 Saft MP 176065 space-qualified Li-ion cells in an eight series and three parallel configuration with a nominal capacity of 16.8Ah and an energy storage capability of 480Wh.
An integral autonomous cell balancing system will ensure the maximum possible battery life.
Two battery packs with a total number of 48 cells are integrated on board.
The MP 1706065 space-qualified cell is based on Saft's MP series of prismatic rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
It offers an extremely high capacity made possible by the stainless steel prismatic container that makes use of the volume lost when conventional cylindrical cells are packed together - a single prismatic cell has some 20% higher volumetric energy density than an equivalent pack of cylindrical cells.
Saft's lithium-ion electrochemistry uses cobalt-base and graphite active materials, combined with an innovative organic solvent mix for the electrolyte.
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Other Saft Space and Defence Batteries stories
- Saft batteries provide power for satellite
Saft's latest lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology is delivering power to the recently launched Optus D3 communications satellite. - SDV utilises lithium-ion battery system from Saft
Saft has delivered a lithium-ion battery system that offers an improvement in performance and reliability for an electrically propelled Swimmer Delivery Vehicle operated by the French Special Forces. - Li-ion batteries power Galileo experiments
A Saft battery module comprising 27 Li-ion cells is providing power for the onboard electronics in the Giove-B satellite, launched this week from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. - Batteries power space truck
Saft has designed, developed and supplied all eight onboard primary and rechargeable batteries required for the ATV Jules Verne. - Battery contract signed for Korean satellites
The Korean Aerospace Research Institute will use Saft's space VES Li-ion battery technology in its Kompsat-3 and Kompsat-5 Earth observation satellites.
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