- Saft will supply over 250 batteries based on its new generation VL10ES lithium-ion cells to power MDA AURORA™ when the solar panels are in eclipse.
- Contract is the largest in Saft’s history for satellite batteries.
- MDA Space Ltd. is a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly expanding global space industry.
Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, will supply MDA Space Ltd with over 250 rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to power the MDA AURORA™ – a game-changing product line driving the transition from analog to digital satellite technology.
The order is for batteries based on the latest generation VL10ES Li-ion cells developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French Center of Space Studies (CNES). It is the largest single contract in Saft’s long heritage in the satellite industry, with some 380 satellites currently orbiting with its space-proven batteries onboard.
The MDA AURORA supply chain will help support product deliveries for anchor customer Telesat’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, Telesat Lightspeed, an innovative, advanced global network that will bring a first-class connectivity to customers worldwide. Designed to meet the changing technical and business requirements of the satellite industry, the software-defined MDA AURORA product line provides operators with unparalleled flexibility and functionality, dramatically enhancing constellation performance at reduced cost and time to market.
The satellites will rely on Saft’s batteries to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of power during the periods of eclipse that occur on each earth orbit, when their solar panels will be cut off from the sunlight.
The MDA AURORA batteries will be built up from modules comprising Saft’s VL10ES cells developed to deliver high energy, safety and long life. At its Poitiers plant, Saft has also implemented automated construction lines to build standardized 4S1P (four series and one parallel) modules that enable a cost-effective battery solution while maintaining the highest levels of quality.
