Requirements for the Design of a Jupiter Precursor Spacecraft Data Transmission System

The significant study results indicate that the Data Transmission System for a Jupiter Precursor Spacecraft requires no advancements in the subsystem technology. However, on missions of such long duration, reliability is a key factor, and the associated requirements are increased an order of magnitude over conventional spacecraft. A minimum scientific instrument package to measure particles and fields has been defined with a minimum data rate of 0.12 bits/sec and storage capability of up to 160,000 bits. Data rates for various transmitter power/antenna size alternatives were established and the preferred design specified. This design includes a ten-watt transmitter with a fan beam antenna to provide a data rate an order of magnitude greater than that required by the minimum instrument package.