Investigation of nickel-hydrogen battery technology for the radarsat spacecraft

✍ Scribed by J.L. Lackner; D.A. McCoy

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 359 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-7753(86)80081-7

✦ Synopsis

The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) operations of the RADARSAT spacecraft require high performance batteries to provide energy to the payload and platform durmg eclipse periods. Nickel-hydrogen cells are currently competmg with the more traditional nickel-cadmium cells for high performance spacecraft applications at GE0 (Geostationary Earth Orbit) and LEO Nickelhydrogen cells appear better suited for high power applications where high currents and high depths of discharge (DOD) are required Although a number of GE0 missions have flown with nickel-hydrogen battenes it is not readily apparent that the LEO version of the nickel-hydrogen cell IS able to withstand the extended cycle hfetnne (5 years) of the RADARSAT mission The problems associated with nickel-hydrogen cells are discussed m the context of the RADARSAT mission andatest programdesigned to characterize cell performance is presented