The magnetron performance will not be compromised by particle bombardment. The few solid state components used in the MDA control circuitry can be well shielded from bombardment by the addition of shielding whose mass should be very small This lack of damage response to bombardment by energetic particles is in sharp distinction to solid state devices that might be considered for use as the microwave generators in space and whose total shielding mass would probably not be acceptable. Low Ratio of Mass to Microwave Power Output Tn reference 2, the design of the magnetron was done in sufficient detail to establish mass to power output ratios with high confidence values. These values were found to depend upon the efficiency of the tube. The mass to power ratio at 85% efficiency was 0.32 kilograms per kilowatt of microwave power. With 90% efficiency this figure became 0.2 kilograms per kilowatt of microwave power. REFERENCES [1] Brown, W. C., Development of an electronically steerable phased array module (ESPAM) with magnetron directional amplifier (MDA) power source, Texas A&M Research Foundation, Subgrant No. L300060, Prime Grant No. NAGW-11194, Project RF-2500-95. [2] Brown, W. C., Satellite Power System (SPS) Magnetron Tube Assessment Study, Final Report, NASA Contractor Report 3383, NASA Contract NAS8-33157, February 1981. [3] Brown, W. C., A Transportronic Solution to the Problem of Interorbital Transportation, Final Report, NASA Contractor Report CR-191152, Prepared for NASA Lewis Research Center, Contract NAS3-25066, July 1992. [4] Brown, W. C., Microwave Beamed Power Technology Improvement, Final Report, May 1980, Performed for IPL under JPL Contract No. 955104 to Raytheon, part of NASA Contract NAS7- 100. to JPL.
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