The U.S. Navy launched a satellite powered by a battery made by Sylmar-based manufacturer Quallion LLC. The Tactical Microsatellite launched on Sept. 28. It was the first time a Quallion battery has been sent into space. Thirty days after launch, the lithium ion battery will begin transmission of data from the satellite, said Vince Visco, vice president of aerospace/military power for Quallion, in a prepared statement. “While we have extensive life test data, this will be the first time that our satellite cells will be launched into orbit,” Visco said. The Tactical Microsatellite allows soldiers to use a handheld radio for communication on the move without having to set up antennae in the field for data transmission.