Communications Satellite Corp, Washington and Johnson Controls Inc, Milwaukee, Wisconsin say they have advanced tha cause of battery technology with development of a lightweight common pressure vessel Nickel-Hydrogen battery for aerospace applications: under development since 1982, the new battery is based on a modular concept claimed to provide significant improvements in specific energy, energy density and cycle life over existing NiH2 and NiCd batteries in satellite applications; an initial prototype 26-cell Common Pressure Vessel NiH2 battery is currently under qualificationn testing at the Comsat Labor tories in Clarksburg, Maryland; a second prototype is set to begin a one year test programme in October.
