9. CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AND TEST PROGRAM A critical technology and test program was formulated to lead from ground tests to orbital tests and so provide a base upon which to plan and build a pilot plant. Primary objectives for the ground test program are designed to provide substantive data relating to three fundamental issues for MPTS: technical feasibility, safety, and radio frequency interference. Primary objectives are: a. Adaptive and commanded phase front control accuracy (feasibility issue). b. System control performance for start-up, shut-down, transients, failure mode protection and recovery (safety issue). b. Amplitude and spectra of random noise and harmonic output of transmitting array and rectenna (RFI issue). The site examined in some detail for the ground demonstration was the JPL Venus Station where a rectenna demonstration and test facility have been installed. This has potential advantages in making possible the use of existing facility, power source and data instrumentation. However, this is an example only. A more extensive site survey than possible in this study should be taken in the future. A functional block diagram for the test is shown in Figure 58. The three test phases increase the capability of the emnpmentf culminating in a test over a range of about 10 km involving rectenna subarrays similar to those planned for the operational configuration. The critical development areas identified that bear directly on the ground demonstration are the dc-rf converter and phase control technologies The amplitron was used as the example for the dc-rf converter. Before hardware effort could begin the klystron will require additional study to obtain a solution to the heat transfer problem and to better define characteristics for a maximum efficiency tube. The program schedule is shown in Figure 59. The demonstration system is complete through Phase III in six years from go-ahead, with each phase design and installation taking two years. The critical technology development is presumed to start concurrently and is planned to have achieved a technical maturity with acceptable risk at each of the Critical Design Review (CDR) milestones sufficient to warrant release of major procurement items for ground demonstration phases. Delays in the technology program will stretch out the ground demonstration proportionally. The rough order of magnitude costs (ROM) expressed in 1975 dollars are given in Figure 60.
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