A Remote Pulse-Height Analyzer and Telemetry Link

A system was needed for transmitting gamma-ray pulse-height information from high altitude to earth. In the system designed, a pulse-height analyzer accepts pulses from gamma-ray detectors, determines their amplitude, and transmits this information in serial form on an event-by event basis via telemetry to a ground station where it is stored on magnetic tape and in the memory of a modified multichannel analyzer. This provides a real-time visual observation of the data as it is accumulated, in addition to facilitating preflight calibration. The on-board analyzer was successfully flown at an altitude of 20 miles for 4 hours, and the telemetry translator was used to decode the magnetic tape recordings.