Make in India: ISRO-BHEL join hands to manufacture Li-Ion Cell for satellite

NewsBharati    23-Mar-2018
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Bengaluru, March 23: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to transfer the technology for the manufacture of space grade Li-Ion cells.

According to Department of Space, the TTA was signed at ISRO Headquarters in the presence of ISRO Chairman, Dr K Sivan and BHEL MD, Atul Sobti. ISRO uses Li-Ion batteries as power sources for satellite and launch vehicle applications due to their high energy density, reliability and long cycle life.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of ISRO at Thiruvananthapuram has successfully developed the technology to produce space grade Li-ion cell, demonstrated the performance of the cell under various testing conditions and established its cycle life characteristics in accelerated mode.

This Li-ion cell Technology Transfer will enable BHEL to produce space grade Li-Ion cells which can meet the country’s space programme requirements. This technology can also be adopted to cater to the Li-Ion cell requirement for other national needs.

ISRO has so far been sourcing space-grade Lithium-ion cells from foreign vendors and BHEL has been assembling and testing space-grade Lithium-ion batteries with such imported cells, for satellites and launch vehicles of ISRO.