A summary of the mandatory and highly desirable items is given in Figure 14-1 together with the related payload and certain intermediate benefit aspects of the implementing orbital test program. The implementation of intermediate benefits can be significant in establishing the details of the design and missions, but this study necessarily concentrated on satisfying the MPTS requirements. As further in-depth studies and technology developments are matured, the implementation should be reassessed and redefined as appropriate. 14.2. 1 GEOSATELLITE (MISSION 1) Figure 14-2 illustrates the geosynchronous satellite concept. The payload consists of the dc-rf converters which were assumed to consist of a 5 kW amplitron and spares with power conditioning equipment as shown in Figure 14-3. See Figure 14-5 for the proposed schedule. The 18M interferometer simulates the hardware at the center of the MPTS transmitting array which serves as the most precise attitude measurement for mechanical pointing. The particle detectors measure plasma conditions which may have some effect on converter performance. It would be attractive to have the pilot beam sent through a disturbed region of the ionosphere. This might be done in a joint or co-located experiment with the NSF Arecibo transmitter in Puerto Rico, which is recommended for consideration in determining lower ("D" layer) ionospheric effects of the power beam. The mission weight estimate together with the performance of the Interim Upper Stage (IUS) to be used with the Shuttle are given in Figure 14-4. We see that a 28. 5 degree inclination orbit (needed for Arecibo participation) provides more payload margin. Definition of the antenna can depend upon the intermediate benefits selected - radar or communications - but it is recommended that the converter payload drive a waveguide feed and array (could be an illuminator for a larger deployable antenna) to simulate the MPTS arrangement as closely as possible. 14.2.2 SHUTTLE SORTIES (MISSIONS 2 THROUGH 11) A series of sortie missions is scheduled to develop the technology of space fabrication and to assemble in low earth orbit the building blocks needed for the Orbital Test Facility. The proposed schedule for the sortie missions is included in Figure 14-5. It begins with the availability of hardware developed in the ground based program.
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