I am interested in any description of the electronics on Syncom-3, the first geostationary satellite. I've been able to find quite a bit of general information. There was a pair of 2 Watt TWTs and somewhere there were five stages of clever diode frequency doubling to get up to the 7 GHz frequency. But I've not been able to find out if it was all vacuum tubes, for example, or if there were any transistors used. Was there a computer or state-machine of any description? What type of memory elements (if any) were used. Latching relays, Core memory, etc. These are the links I've seen so far:
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
You may want to read this technical report by NASA.
By searching "transistor" in the pdf, I have found this:
[...] the frequency multiplication is accomplished in eight doublers, of which all but the first involve the use of varactor diodes connected push-push in efficient duo-mode networks. The first doubler uses a conventional transistor circuit [...]
And this for "memory":
A psi tracker is used in the input circuitry of the synchronous controller servo. This functions as a memory circuit to ensure controller lock-on if for some reason psi pulses from the spacecraft are lost. It also discriminates against noise and spurious signals from the telemetry receiver that might otherwise break controller lock-on.
(There were also other results for transistor and memory).
-
$\begingroup$ Very cool! (more info on early transistors in space: space.stackexchange.com/a/21961/12102) $\endgroup$– uhohAug 20, 2018 at 8:57
-
$\begingroup$ fyi I've just asked How did Syncom-3 achieve eight stages of frequency doubling? I only see seven in the block diagram $\endgroup$– uhohAug 20, 2018 at 9:10