EaglePicher Powers Vehicles for Mission to Mars

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) was launched aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle in August (shown above). Both are powered by EaglePicher batteries.

EaglePicher provided the 50Ah, 11 cell, common pressure vessel (CPV), nickel-hydrogen main power battery for the MRO as well as the 150Ah, 28V, silver zinc main power battery for the Atlas V.

The launch vehicle battery was located in the Centaur upper stage and provided electrical power for launch and, later, separation of the MRO satellite. The batteries will supply electrical power during the dark or sunless periods as MRO travels “behind” Mars during each orbit and the spacecraft’s solar panels are not exposed to sunlight.

Steve Westfall, executive vice president and general manager of EP Defense and Space Power Division, said, “Our launch battery performed beautifully and helped accomplish a flawless satellite insertion. We are also excited that our nickel-hydrogen battery is on a 288-million- mile trip to Mars and we are very confident it will achieve its goals as well.”