ABSL Powers Second SAR-Lupe Satellite In Orbit
16th August 2007
The launch of the second SAR-Lupe Satellite in early July 2007 marked the twenty-eighth ABSL Space Products Lithium-ion battery in space. The battery is designed to support the satellite throughout its Ten year Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission.
ABSL Space Products celebrates its twenty-eighth battery in space
The satellite is currently being operated at maximum eclipse times. Nevertheless, in the time since launch, battery as well as the satellite have been working smoothly, demonstrating the ability to completely fulfil all mission tasks without restrictions. The first SAR-Lupe satellite has been in orbit since December 2006. It is supplying superb high-resolution images and is operating very successfully and reliably.
The SAR-Lupe system consists of five identical satellites built by OHB-System AG in Germany for the German Government and will be launched sequentially. With its high-resolution radar, SAR-Lupe provides a repetitive worldwide reconnaissance capability with perfect picture quality independent of weather and lighting conditions. All satellites are launched on top of the Cosmos 3M rocket from Plesetsk, Russia.
Rob Spurrett, Director of ABSL Space Products commented: “This was our first contract with OHB which was only secured by our ability to meet OHB’s demanding schedule requirements. We are under contract to supply batteries for all SAR-Lupe satellites and look forward to a long and successful relationship with OHB.”
Other recent successes for ABSL Space Products include the supply in January 2007 of two FM 90Ah primary cell batteries for the FOTON mission due for launch in September this year. ABSL has also delivered flight batteries for the KSLV-1 program based in Korea. The batteries each have a nominal voltage of 270V.
ABSL is recognised as the world leader in the supply of Lithium-ion batteries for space applications with over eighty Lithium-ion battery contracts for spacecraft and launch vehicles. ABSL supplied the first rechargeable Lithium-ion battery flown in space and a total of twenty-eight spacecraft are now flying using Lithium-ion technology. More than 5,300 cell-years of space operation have been built up without a single failure.
--Ends--
Media Information
For media information please contact:
- Rob Spurrett (UK) - T: +44 1865 408 747 E:
- Chris Pearson (USA) - T: +1 303-241-1229 E:
Notes to Editors:
About ABSL Power Solutions Limited
ABSL Space Products is a trading name of ABSL Power Solutions Limited, which is one of nine companies acquired by Coller Capital from AEA Technology plc in October 2005. This change offers ABSL Space Products a huge opportunity to grow and develop the business to achieve its ambitions.
ABSL Space Products is the world leader in the supply of Lithium-ion batteries for space applications with Lithium-ion battery contracts for over sixty spacecraft and launch vehicles. ABSL supplied the first rechargeable Lithium-ion battery flown in space and a total of nineteen spacecraft in orbit are now using ABSL Lithium-ion battery technology.
ABSL has built up a global customer base, winning major contracts from NASA, ESA, and major prime manufacturers in North America, Europe and the rest of the world.
ABSL has demonstrated in orbit the most reliable Lithium-ion product available for the space market by clocking up over 5,300 cell years of space operation without failure.
ABSL has pioneered a battery design concept that is uniquely flexible. As well as being selected for very large space battery applications (such as the 400KWh unit for the NASA Space Shuttle), ABSL’s “small-cell” concept has become the natural choice for many satellite applications.
ABSL has been active in the space industry since the 1960s during the early days of ion-thruster development. During the 1980s, ABSL was the largest non-US subcontractor to the United States Strategic Development Initiative (SDI). More recently, effort has been focused on its power and optical products, such as LIDAR and infrared calibration systems.
ABSL is working on the next generation of Lithium-ion technology to increase battery level energy density to over 150Wh/kg.
About OHB-System AG
OHB-System AG is a systems provider belonging to the listed OHB Technology AG group (ISIN: DE0005936124, Prime Standard), which employs more than 1000 people in the areas of Space Systems + Security, Space Transportation + Aerospace Structures and Telematics + Satellite Operations. In this connection, OHB-System AG specializes in Space Systems + Security applications. OHB can look back on 25 years of experience in the successful development and qualification of space technology systems especially in its Small Satellites and Manned Space Flight segments as well as in technologies for security and reconnaissance.
Most recent articles
- ABSL Powers 4th SAR-LUPE Satellite in Orbit - 02nd April 2008
- ABSL Space Products completes ALFA-F Project - 25th January 2008
- ABSL selected for WATCHKEEPER UAV emergency battery pack - 05th December 2007
- Mars Express - 5000 orbits and counting - 29th November 2007
- ABSL Batteries Power Another Year For PROBA Mission - 22nd October 2007
