Examples regarding the use of electronics for space missions
Abstract
Electronics has played a vital part in the many space missions conducted since the dawn of the space age in 1957. The employment of electronics in the spacecraft itself is mainly related to the processing and the transmission of payload data, the reception and execution of commands, and the supervision and control of experiments and spacecraft systems. The use of suitable onboard computers is considered, taking into account the development in West Germany of a computing device based on the employment of the military version of the microprocessor MC 68000. The design and the functions of a ground station used in connection with the operation of interplanetary space probes is also discussed, and a description is provided of aspects of sensor-specific signal processing operations. Particular attention is given to digital synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. Modern microelectronics will make it possible to provide the SAR processor as part of the SAR-sensor system borne by the satellite.
- Publication:
-
Luft und Raumfahrt
- Pub Date:
- December 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981LR......2..117M
- Keywords:
-
- Airborne/Spaceborne Computers;
- Onboard Data Processing;
- Signal Processing;
- Space Missions;
- Spacecraft Electronic Equipment;
- Synthetic Aperture Radar;
- Data Transmission;
- Digital Systems;
- Ground Stations;
- Interplanetary Spacecraft;
- Microelectronics;
- Microprocessors;
- Payload Control;
- Spacecraft Control;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking