Milestone: BHEL supplies 100th space-grade battery to ISRO

ISRO had tied up with state-owned engineering firm BHEL in 2018 for supplying space-grade lithium-ion batteries in 2018. BHEL just reached a milestone of supplying the 100th one

BHEL reaches a milestone of supplying the 100th space-grade battery to ISRO
These batteries have been manufactured by the Electronic Systems Division of BHEL in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: India's largest power generation equipment manufacturer BHEL on Friday said it has achieved a milestone of supplying 100 space-grade battery to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its Chandrayaan-3 mission. "Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved the unique milestone of supplying its 100th battery to ISRO for its very important and critical mission, Chandrayaan 3," BHEL said in a statement.

Over the last 16 years, BHEL has been supplying batteries to ISRO for its critical mission applications like INSAT, GSAT, IRNSS series and RISAT series. In 2018 ISRO had entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with BHEL to transfer the technology for manufacturing of space-grade Li-ion cells. ISRO uses Li-ion batteries for satellite and launch vehicle applications due to their high energy density, reliability and long cycle life.

'Matter of pride'

As part of this series, the 100th battery was handed over to ISRO by AK Jain, Executive Director, BHEL-EDN. The vehicle carrying this battery was flagged-off by M Sankaran, Deputy Director/CPA of Isro, Bengaluru at ESD, in the presence of senior officials of State-owned engineering firm BHEL and ISRO. "BHEL has completed testing of nearly 75,000 multi-junction solar cells at its premises, prior to use in the fabrication of panels. The company takes immense pride in its association with all of ISRO's launch vehicles" the PSU said in the statement.

Manufactured in BHEL-ESD, Bengaluru

The space-grade Li-ion cells have been manufactured at the Electronic Systems Division (ESD) of BHEL in Bengaluru, with the highest standards of quality, reliability and safety. These batteries use various types of chemistry, including Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel-Hydrogen and Lithium-Ion.

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Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at ISRO in Thiruvananthapuram has developed the technology to produce these cells. The BHEL's ESD also fabricates and supplies space-grade solar panels for satellites of ISRO for the last two decades and more than 650 sq meters of BHEL-made panels are used in various satellites.

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