Landsat 5 TWTA Transmitter Problem Interrupts Data Acquisitions

Mar. 16, 2006 • After an outgassing event, the Landsat 5 X-band transmitter prematurely shut off during a data downlink to the USGS Landsat Ground Station in Sioux Falls, SD. Specifically the backup Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA), which is a downlink power amplifier for spacecraft telecommunications, tripped an Over Current Protection circuit. In 1987, a similar anomaly forced engineers to power down the primary transmitter. Landsat 5 data acquisitions are suspended until this problem can be resolved.

 

 

 

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