COCKEYSVILLE, Md., 19 July 2009. Satellite designers at Orbital Sciences Corp. in Dulles, Va., needed lithium ion (Li-ion) space batteries for the MEASAT-3a communications satellite, launched in June from a Land Launch rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They found their space battery solution from Saft in Cockeysville, Md.

The MEASAT-3a satellite, which will generate space power 3.6 kilowatts for the satellite payload, carries 12 Ku-band and 12 C-band active transponders along with three antennas.

MEASAT-3a contains two of Saft's VES 140 spacecraft batteries onboard, for 72 VES 140 cells. This launch makes 33 spacecraft in orbit today using Saft Li-ion battery technology, company officials say. Saft's rechargeable Li-ion batteries power the MEASAT-3a during two eclipse seasons per year when the spacecraft is blocked from the sun.

MEASAT-3a will serve C-band markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region with a global beam, while Ku-band beams will serve direct-to-home broadcasting in Malaysia and Indonesia. The satellite will be located at an orbital slot at 91.5 degrees East Longitude over Southeast Asia and will .

In addition to the MEASAT-3a, Saft has provided batteries for several Orbital-built satellites, including the Optus D3, which is scheduled to launch later this year, and both the Optus D1 and Optus D2 satellites that launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Saft also supplied its Li-ion technology for Orbital's Horizons-2 and THOR 5 satellites, both launched in 2008. Orbital's KOREASAT 6 is being manufactured with Saft Li-ion batteries onboard and is scheduled for launch in 2010.

For more information contact Saft online at www.saftbatteries.com.