JOPLIN, Mo., 21 April 2009. EaglePicher Technologies LLC in Joplin, Mo., is supplying nickel hydrogen battery space power for the satellite electronics of the Italian SICRAL 1B military communications satellite, which is built by Thales Alenia Space. The military satellite launched on 20 April.

The 92Ah batteries from EaglePicher will power the defense satellite during eclipse for an expected operational life of 13 years. The SICRAL 1B satellite avionics will provide strategic and tactical communications on Italian and foreign territories as well as mobile communications between terrestrial, naval, and air forces. It will also provide UHF and SHF band satellite capacities to NATO forces.

EaglePicher supplied nickel hydrogen batteries to the previous SICRAL program, SICRAL 1, which launched in February 2001. The program is scheduled to be replaced by SICRAL 2 in 2012.

EaglePicher's nickel hydrogen batteries and cells also have powered the U.S. Hubble Space Telescope, the International Space Station, Lunar Rover, Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury. For more information contact EaglePicher Technologies online at www.eaglepicher.com.