GS Yuasa’s second generation LSE lithium ion cells. Photo: GS Yuasa

[Via Satellite 10-25-2016] Boeing, prime manufacturer for the first two ViaSat 3 high capacity satellites, has placed an order with GS Yuasa Lithium Power (GYLP), a U.S. subsidiary of GS Yuasa Corporation (GYC) in Japan, for LSE190 lithium-ion cells to use in building the satellites. GYLP is providing the cells to power the ViaSat 3 satellites designated for the Americas and for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), which are expected to provide 1 terabit-per-second of throughput each, designed to support high power duty cycles and achieve a 15-year mission life. ViaSat has not yet placed an order for the third ViaSat 3 satellite, designated for the Asia-Pacific.

GS Yuasa Technology (GYT) a GS Yuasa group company, is the exclusive manufacturer of the LSE190 cells. More than 120 satellites use lithium-ion batteries from the company. Boeing in April entered a long-term supply agreement with GYLP for the supply of multiple configurations of space-qualified lithium-ion cells from now through 2020, with an option to extend the agreement. The batteries are for both commercial and government satellite programs.