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Home > Market Sectors > Aerospace & Defense > Space

Space

With more than 50 years' experience and several ‘firsts’, Saft has proved it knows how to ensure the quality of a battery system in space. Our batteries will last the duration of long missions, survive extreme vibration and shocks, vacuum and extreme temperatures, and are made to stringent size and weight constraints.
Contact our Saft specialist
Overview

Saft spacecraft batteries to hit the stars

Extreme environments need extremely reliable batteries

Saft's record in designing and building lithium-ion batteries for space speaks for itself. We employ the most rigorous standards in terms of quality, testing and documentation to make sure that our batteries do not jeopardize a mission. Our solutions are used on extremely demanding missions such as GEO telecommunication and MEO global-positioning satellites and support specific applications from high-power telecommunications to observation and defense LEO satellites. Other applications served by Saft’s space qualified batteries include space experiments, launchers, space transfer vehicles, rovers, planetary landers, astronaut tools, space object study, and deep space probes. 

Built to meet objectives

Saft’s Li-ion cells are specially adapted for space applications from field-proven designs. Cells are manufactured at four sites – Cockeysville, MD (USA), Nersac (France), Poitiers (France), and Bordeaux (France) – which together meet the demanding quality, schedule and cost objectives of space programs. 

In 2014, the great success of the Philae mission was directly linked to the performances of the primary Li-SOCl2 battery. After more than 10 years of travel in very cold conditions (less than -60°C), the battery has powered the probe onto the Tchouriomov-Gerasimenko comet allowing it to conduct more than 90% of the experiments planned and to ensure the telecommunication with Rosetta and Earth during the 3 first days on the comet.

 

 

Products & solutions
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Back-up application
Battery systems and accessories
  • 4s1p VES16 battery

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  • MP & VL Batteries for launchers

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  • Saft solution for LEO and small GEO applications

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  • VL51ES battery

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  • MP & VL Batteries for launchers

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  • MP & VL Batteries for launchers

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300+ satellites with lithium-ion batteries
+300
satellites with Saft's lithium-ion batteries
3.2 MWh in orbit
3.2
MWh in orbit
1.3 billion cell-hour in orbit
1.3
billion cell-hour in orbit
540 batteries in space
540
Saft batteries in space
50+ years in space
+50
years of experience in space
4 billion people watch TV from Saft-powered satellites
4
billion people watch TV from Saft-powered satellites

Space qualified lithium-ion batteries

A pioneer for the next frontier

Since the launch of our first battery in 1966 on board the D1A “Diapason”, Saft has gained significant experience to become the top supplier worldwide of spacecraft batteries. We are a pioneer in lithium-ion batteries for space applications and offer advanced battery solutions with very long shelf-life (up to 20 years). As no two space missions are the same, so no two space-application batteries are. Saft knows this and always works with customers to design a solution for their specific space needs.

Saft is the sole company to master all steps from electrodes to full battery solutions, and, the only battery manufacturer offering all technologies used in space: Nickel (Ni-Cd, Ni-H2), Primary lithium (Li-SO2, Li-SOCl2, and Li-MnO2), and Rechargeable lithium (Li-ion).

Incorporating electronics for safety

Saft’s fully integrated, “all-in-one” modular package combines electronics and electrochemistry to provide a system with intelligent autonomous cell balancing management, optimized for easy installation and instant operation. The system function includes balancing, by-pass, and discharge.
 

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Documentation & downloads
  • VES 16 Battery

    Product datasheet Download (English)
  • BA 685 C product datasheet

    Product datasheet Download (English)
  • BA 684 C product datasheet

    Product datasheet Download (English)
  • 4S1P VES16 battery

    Product datasheet Download (English)
  • BA 685 D product datasheet

    Product datasheet Download (English)
  • Saft, powering space for 50 years

    Market Brochure Download (English)

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Saft Groupe SAS
Communications Department
26, quai Charles Pasqua
92300 Levallois-Perret – France
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Contact our Saft Specialists

To ensure we can respond as efficiently as possible, please complete this form which will be delivered to our team of experts who will help you with your enquiry.

In accordance with the provisions of the personal data protection regulation, Saft Groupe SAS as data controller will process your data for the purposes of providing the services and for its legitimate interest. Any mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk.

In accordance with current regulations, you have the right to access, correct, delete and object to the use of your personal data. You may ask for your personal data to be sent to you and you have the right to give instructions for the use of your personal data after your death. You can also ask for restriction of the data, portability of the data and/or make a claim to the CNIL (the French data protection agency). For any request please send it to GDPR@saftbatteries.com or to the following address:

Saft Groupe SAS
Communications Department
26, quai Charles Pasqua
92300 Levallois-Perret – France
Find out more

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