The agreement results from the cooperation between Saft and EADS Astrium over the last decade, which the company said has led to the qualification of a complete product range and successful in-orbit operation of lithium-ion batteries for GEO applications.

The rechargeable Saft Li-ion cell modules, based on high-energy VES140 and VES180 cells, provide a light and compact source of backup power to ensure continuous satellite operations when their solar panels are in eclipse.

This is the first of three contracts already signed under the agreement, which Saft said are worth a total of about 2.5 million euros.

Onboard electronic systems on GEO satellites usually rely on solar panels for electric power, but twice each year, during the equinoxes - around March 21 and September 21 - the panels fall into Earth's shadow, with no direct sunlight.

During these periods, which last around 22 days each, onboard batteries must provide sufficient power to ensure the satellite's uninterrupted operations, over a service life of up to 15 years.

Rather than using nickel-cadmium or nickel-hydrogen battery systems for onboard power, Saft's Li-ion battery technology, which has the capability to store the same amount of energy as a Ni-H2 battery in a smaller package, offering a weight saving of around 50 percent.

This will enable both EADS Astrium and the satellite operator to utilize more of the satellite's crucial overall mass to carry a larger operational payload, the company said.

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