Satellite Launched with Saft Technology

The Optus D1 Communications Satellite was launched in late October with Li-ion technology from battery manufacturer Saft on board. The satellite ltook off from the Guiana Space Centre using the facilities at the Ariane 5 launcher in Kourou, French Guiana. Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Virginia, selected Saft's batteries for the satellite built for Optus of Australia.

Optus D1 is the first of two geosynchronous (GEO) telecommunications satellites to be launched onboard Orbital Sciences's STAR 2.4 platform to provide communication and broadcasting services to Australia and New Zealand. The STAR satellites are smaller and affordable to launch.

"We are pleased that Orbital continues to rely on Saft to provide the technology needed to back its more powerful STAR 2.4 satellite platform,"said Thomas Alcide, director and general manager for Saft's specialty battery group.

Orbital will launch five more satellites over the next two years. Saft provides two 40Ah Li-ion batteries in a 4P9S configuration, made in Saft's Poitiers and Bordeaux manufacturing facilities in France to power the satellites during eclipse. Optus 2 is scheduled for launch in 2007.