Microtelecommunications System Mounted on Probe Aftbody

Description

• Ultra High Frequency (UHF) system: Receive frequency 437.1 Mhz, transmit frequency 401.5 Mhz
• 7 Kbits/second transmission rate
• Reed-Solomon and convolutional coding
• Phased Shift Key (PSK) Modulation format
• Low Power: 500 milliwatts in receive mode, 2 watts in transmit mode
• Small size: 64 square centimeters (9.9 square inches)
• Capable of surviving high shock (< 60,000 Gs) and low temperatures (> -80 C (-112 F)

Why is it exciting?

• Multimission capability
• Very small and light weight

Who needs it?

• Missions requiring moderate rate/range relays
• Earth & planetary science

Developers/Suppliers

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
  System Design, Integration, Test

• American Microelectronics Inc.
  Sensor ASIC Fabrication

• Ohio State University
  Antenna Performance Modeling