Engineering evaluations and studies. Volume 1: Exhibit A
Orbiter inertial upper-stage studies, ku-band hardware studies, S-band hardware investigations, shuttle/Centaur communication system engineering investigations are provided.
Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Maronde, R. G..
Orbiter inertial upper-stage studies, ku-band hardware studies, S-band hardware investigations, shuttle/Centaur communication system engineering investigations are provided.
Ku-band communication system analysis, S-band system investigations, payload communication investigations, shuttle/TDRSS and GSTDN compatibility analysis are discussed.
Preliminary shuttle/Centaur communication system analysis and shuttle global positioning system investigations are discussed. Television digitizer development is also discussed.
High rate multiplexes asymmetry and jitter, data-dependent amplitude variations, and transition density are discussed.
The Centaur is stored in the Orbiter payload bay on the Centaur Integrated Support System (CISS). The CISS not only cradles the Centaur prior to deployment but also provides any signal conditioning required to make the Centaur/Orbiter hardwire interfaces compatible. In addition, the CISS provides other Centaur functions such as controlling all the avionics safety features and providing all the helium supplies for tank pressurizations. Problems associated with a Centaur design concept using a transponder and two switchable antennas are defined. Solutions to these problems are presented.
System performance aspects of the Ku band radar communication hardware and investigations into the Ku band/payload interfaces are discussed. The communications track problem caused by the excessive signal dynamic range at the servo input was investigated. The management/handover logic is discussed and a simplified description of the transmitter enable logic function is presented. Output noise produced by a voltage-controlled oscillator chip used in the SPA return-link channel 3 mid-bit detector is discussed. The deployed assembly (DA) and EA-2 critical design review data are evaluated. Cross coupling effects on antenna servo stability were examined. A series of meetings on the acceptance test specification for the deployed assembly is summarized.
The Ku-band test equipment, known as the Deliverable System Test equipment (DSTE), is reviewed and evaluated. The DSTE is semiautomated and computer programs were generated for 14 communication mode tests and 17 radar mode tests. The 31 test modules provide a good cross section of tests with which to exercise the Ku-band system; however, it is very limited when being used to verify Ku-band system performance. More detailed test descriptions are needed, and a major area of concern is the DSTE sell-off procedure which is inadequate.
The analysis of the design, and the performance assessment of the Orbiter S-band communication equipment are reported. The equipment considered include: network transponder, network signal processor, FM transmitter, FM signal processor, payload interrogator, and payload signal processor.
In August 1971 an eighty pound subsatellite was ejected from Apollo 15 into lunar orbit. The subsatellite is expected to remain in lunar orbit for at least one year. The Particles Experiment Subsystem of the subsatellite was designed to implement the Particle Shadows/Boundary Layer Experiment. The objective of the experiment is to obtain data for the study of the formation and the dynamics of the earth's magnetosphere, the interaction of plasmas with the moon, and the physics of solar flares. The design of the particle detector telescopes is considered together with details of collimator design, silicon detectors, the absorber foil, and the power subsystems. The instrument performance in lunar orbit is discussed.