Download NEO Tech Built Battery Packs Successfully Launched

9340 Owensmouth Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
818-495-8617
www.neotech.com
For more information:
Steve Heinzen, VP Marketing
NEO Tech
510-933-6065
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEO Tech Built Battery Packs Successfully Launched into Space, and Installed at
NASA’s International Space Station
CHATSWORTH, CA – January 24, 2017 – NEO Tech, a leading provider of manufacturing
technology and supply chain solutions for brand name OEMs in the industrial, medical and mil/aero
markets, announces that six Lithium-Ion Battery Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs) that it assembled
for Aerojet Rocketdyne were launched into
space for the International Space Station on
December 9, 2016, with the first three
successfully installed in the International
Space Station January 6, 2017. The new
battery cell used in the ORUs is a thirdgeneration of Li-ion cell that is designed
specifically for space.
In early 2014, NEO Tech invested in and
expanded its Chatsworth facility to produce
large-form-factor, high-reliability products for
use in mission-critical applications like manned space flight. Aerojet Rocketdyne selected NEO Tech
to be its manufacturing supplier on the Li-ion battery ORU program because NEO Tech offered a
compelling manufacturing solution and was within close proximity to Aerojet Rocketdyne, enabling
close collaboration and concurrent engineering to facilitate timely completion of the product for launch.
The company also was able to develop a specialized selective soldering process to solve challenges
with very large buss bar lamination. NEO Tech invested in the production infrastructure to build,
inspect and test the ORU to meet stringent manned space flight requirements. NEO Tech processes
were certified by Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA, including process certification of production
personnel. Then the ORUs were delivered to Aerojet Rocketdyne for final acceptance testing before
being delivered to the Boeing and NASA customer.
The Li-Ion ORUs were placed aboard Kounotori 6, an unpiloted HTV cargo carrier on top of the
Japanese H-2B rocket, on a specially-designed pallet destined to carry the ORUs which will replace a
portion of the International Space Station’s aging nickel-hydrogen batteries. The new batteries are
lighter and more efficient – one lithium-ion unit is capable of replacing two of the old models. The first
three units were successfully installed outside the space station’s right-side S4 power truss, one of the
laboratory’s four main solar array modules. The installation was conducted during the first spacewalk
of the New Year by NASA Astronauts. Eighteen additional batteries will be sent to the space station
over the next four years.
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NATEL Engineering Co., Inc.│9340 Owensmouth, Chatsworth, CA 91311│Tel: 818-734-6500 Fax: 818-734-6530 │ NEOTech.com │ ISO 9100 Certified
9340 Owensmouth Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
818-495-8617
www.neotech.com
About NEO Tech
NEO Tech combines the strengths of three leading contract manufacturers: NATEL, EPIC, and
OnCore. With over 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEO Tech focuses on lowmedium-volume/high-mix, high-complexity products primarily in the medical, defense/aerospace and
industrial markets.
NEO Tech offers full product lifecycle engineering services, manufacturing and testing
of microelectronics, cable & harness interconnect products, PCBA, full box build services and
aftermarket repair and fulfillment services. The companies that form NEO Tech have been known for
solving tough engineering problems that result in high-reliability, high-quality electronic solutions for
customers.
Headquartered in Chatsworth, CA, NEO Tech has manufacturing and engineering locations in
California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Mexico, and China. NEO
Tech holds and maintains industry specific certifications that include ISO9001, AS9100, ISO13485,
ISO/TS16949, ISO14001 and MIL-PRF-38534. To learn more, visit www.NEOTech.com.
NATEL Engineering Co., Inc.│9340 Owensmouth, Chatsworth, CA 91311│Tel: 818-734-6500 Fax: 818-734-6530 │ NEOTech.com │ ISO 9100 Certified