Saft to Power Optus Communications Satellite

Saft recently won its seventh contract with Orbital Sciences Corp. to supply high capacity Li-ion batteries which will power the Optus D3 comm-unications satellite. The satellite will use two rechargeable Saft Li-ion 180Wh average cells in a 4P9S configuration. Cells will be made in Saft’s Bordeaux, France facilities and the batteries will be assembled in Poitiers.

Saft’s VES180 rechargeable Li-ion batteries will deliver satellite power during two eclipse seasons per year when the spacecraft is blocked from the sun, allowing Orbital to significantly decrease the satellite’s weight. This 30% to 50% weight savings on the battery. This allows Orbital to dedicate more of the satellite’s mass to the payload.