Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!faline!thumper!karn
From: karn@thumper.bellcore.com (Phil R. Karn)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: comments/reply for SPACE_DIGEST
Summary: Lithium batteries
Message-ID: <1139@thumper.bellcore.com>
Date: 8 Jun 88 15:13:12 GMT
References: <8806072109.AA09311@angband.s1.gov>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc
Lines: 25

> >So, just what are Lithium batteries, and why would they be prohibited on
> >a space flight, when I am allowed to take one in my watch and mingle
> >around thousands of people in public places? Are they radioactive?  What
> >about a leak?
> 
> I'm no battery expert, but I have a feeling that for powering a satellite there
> might be a size or weight issue at stake here...

Yes, there is a size/weight issue, but it strongly favors lithium
batteries. That's why everybody wants to use them. The cell voltage is
about 3 volts (twice that of most primary batteries) and they put out
considerably more watt-hours/kilogram. This is inherent in lithium's
high electronegativity (i.e., it likes to release electrons) and its
small atomic number (which means you waste relatively little mass
carrying protons and neutrons, in contrast to other battery anodes like
zinc, cadmium and especially lead.)  Lithium batteries also have an
unusually long shelf life, which would be especially useful given the
long delays and slips a typical Shuttle payload encounters.

The reason NASA bans them from the shuttle is because they have been
known to explode when shorted.  They can usually tolerate a short
lasting a few seconds (typically 5), which is how they can be
wave-soldered to PC boards.  No, they are not radioactive.

Phil