Saft, the leader in batteries for space, is celebrating the success of the MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout), an asteroid lander designed to research the origins of the solar system, which relied on a Saft battery system as its power source.

After MASCOT disconnected from the Hayabusa 2 craft, the battery system powered four scientific instruments as well as the on-board computer, navigation sensors and communication system.

In addition, the battery provided power for a 'hopping' mechanism to propel the lander between measurement sites on the asteroid surface, making it a first for humankind.

The non-rechargeable lithium thionyl-chloride battery system, manufactured in Poitiers, France, was selected by French space agency CNES as the sole onboard power source for MASCOT because of its extremely light weight, high electrical capacity and ability to withstand severe shock and vibration.

In addition, the mission required the battery system to power up successfully after being on standby for four years during its voyage from Earth so its long shelf life was invaluable.

"The battery ensured that the mission was a great achievement as it provided 16 hours of data to asteroid researchers, a duration that was previously inconceivable for a craft with such sophisticated on-board systems," said Annie Sennet, Executive Vice President of Saft's Space and Defense Division.

"The success builds on Saft's 50-year experience of providing batteries for space exploration missions."

The Hayabusa 2 orbiter travelled to the Ryugu asteroid from Earth after launching in December 2014. It deployed MASCOT on the carbon rich asteroid to study its surface.

Understanding the composition of the asteroid will give insight into the early days of the solar system, including the formation of water and emergence of life on Earth. Data from MASCOT's in-situ analysis has now been sent back to Earth for further study.

The MASCOT lander used the same battery type as the 2014's Rosetta mission, when the European Consortium's Philae lander touched down on a comet 720 million km from Earth.

The battery on board the Philae lander provided power for 64 hours of scientific activity, demonstrating the reliability of Saft's battery systems for space exploration missions.

+ Hayabusa 2

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Japan delays touchdown of Hayabusa2 probe on asteroid: official
Tokyo, Japan (AFP) Oct 11, 2018
A Japanese probe sent to examine an asteroid in order to shed light on the origins of the solar system will now land on the rock several months later than planned, officials said Thursday. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told reporters the Hayabusa2 probe is now expected to touch down on the Ryugu asteroid in "late January" at the earliest, rather than at the end of this month as initially expected. JAXA project manager Yuichi Tsuda said they needed more time to prepare the lan ... read more