Scott Nicholas
Lockheed Martin‘s space systems business has selected EaglePicher to provide a power source for the NASAÂ Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer spacecraft launched in September.
EaglePicher said Monday it has provided 8-cell lithium batteries, the main spacecraft battery and two identical 28-volt, 30-ampere-hour batteries to power the return capsule as well as integrated battery management electronics and heaters to address extreme cold temperatures in space.
The company also delivered Silver Zinc batteries to support the on-board electronics of the Atlas V launch vehicle used for the OSIRIS-REx launch as well as the flight termination, telemetry, guidance control and tracking systems.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Arizona lead the OSIRIS-REx mission that will work to learn more about the formation of the solar system and collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid called Bennu.
EaglePicher noted that OSIRIS-REx is the third NASA mission under the New Frontiers program.
