Advances in Space Traveling-Wave Tubes for NASA Missions

Author

Wilson, Jeffrey D. ; Wintucky, Edwin G. ; Vaden, Karl R. ; Force, Dale A. ; Krainsky, Isay L. ; Simons, Rainee N. ; Robbins, Neal R. ; Menninger, William L. ; Dibb, Daniel R. ; Lewis, David E.

Author_Institution

NASA Glenn Res. Center, Cleveland

Volume

95

Issue

10

fYear

2007

Firstpage

1958

Lastpage

1967

Abstract

Significant advances in the performance and reliability of traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) utilized in amplifying space communication signals for NASA missions have been achieved over the last three decades through collaborative efforts between NASA and primarily L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc. (L-3 ETI). This paper summarizes some of the key milestones during this period and includes development of TWTs for the Communications Technology Satellite, Cassini, and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter missions. Technical advances in computer modeling, design techniques, materials, and fabrication have enabled power efficiency to increase by almost 40% and the output power/mass figure-of-merit to increase by an order of magnitude during this period.

Keywords

space communication links; travelling wave tubes; Cassini mission; Communications Technology Satellite mission; L-3 Communications Electron Technologies; Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission; NASA missions; amplifying space communication signals; computer modeling; fabrication; space traveling-wave tubes; Artificial satellites; Collaboration; Communications technology; Electron tubes; Moon; NASA; Reconnaissance; Space exploration; Space missions; Space technology; Amplifiers; cathodes; microwaves; space communications; traveling-wave tubes;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JPROC.2007.905062

Filename

4374109