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Technology Stocks : VALENCE TECHNOLOGY (VLNC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: john t. brice who wrote (8997)	3/7/1999 10:03:00 AM
From: John Curtis	Respond to of 27311

Duckster: Reference those sites(as a beginning). You'll find VLNC is NOT providing the batteries on the Mars probes. At least, not on those launched in Dec. '98 & Jan. '99. As for the ambitious 2001 probe(s), well, I'm still looking. Oh, by the way, I don't know WHERE that Mars probe rumor got started, but it's clear it should have been verified before being tossed out on this thread(but then again, what other gossip would we have had to while away the time, eh? Heh). BUT, in fairness, if you've reviewed the press-kit I referenced you'll also find it talks about those micro-probes currently on their way to Mars. Micro-probes? Yup, they're basketball size projectiles designed to enter Martian soil at ~200 meters per second(geee, I hope the Martians don't take offense to this attack, heh). A parenthetical aside here; they describe this impact as being the equivalent of a desktop computer being hit by a semi-truck going 400 miles per hour!! Talked about yer high-tech "hardening" of sensitive electronics, eh? Wooo weeee! Anyway, the purpose is to "stab" a bullet-like sensor device into the Martian terrain in order to sample it, determine its composition, etc.. That small projectile IS powered by "D" sized special one time use lithium-thionyl chloride batteries. But these special power sources were built by an outfit(Yardney Technical Products) out of Connecticut. Perhaps this is where the confusion stems from? Good luck with yer searching! Let me know what you find. Regards! John~

To: john t. brice who wrote (8997)	3/7/1999 6:37:00 PM
From: Gordon Quickstad	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27311

>>...I was thinking he might be the right man to ask what types of batteries might be included on this probe, maybe even who might be supplying them. << It's a real stretch for me to believe that VLNC would supply a battery for a space probe. There are many tested and understood battery technologies that are available for such a purpose that are not commercially available because of toxicity and expense concerns. For such a use, a battery system might be chosen for highest energy density, power density, best temperature range, and perhaps best cycling capacity and G-force survivability. Just as nuclear reactors are put into space uses, toxicity would not be a great concern, and expense would be of relatively no concern. VLNC's battery might be ideal for laptops and cell phones, but why would it beat out some of these other esoteric batteries? If VLNC is directly or indirectly involved in supplying this technology to space programs it would be worth a press release.