AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation has provided its power amplifier, the model 700S1G4, to NASA in order to create a connection with the International Space/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3), which was launched by NASA in the 1970s.
“The 700S1G4 is a 700-watt, portable, self-contained, air-cooled, broadband, completely solid-state amplifier designed for applications where instantaneous bandwidth, high gain and linearity are required. It’s designed to operate at S Band frequencies (2.0.2.2 GHz for this application),” according to the company.
This spacecraft was launched into orbit in 1978 in order to study earth’s magnetic field and solar wind; however, in 1999 the equipment used to broadcast signals to the ISEE-3 was decommissioned. Because this equipment would have cost too much to replace, scientists were forced to remove these studies from their agendas.
A group of engineers has been working to raise funds for this project and have raised $160,000 so far. AR also stepped in to help and with access to the 700S1G4 amplifier, scientists are now able to pick up where they left off.
For more information, visit AR’s website.
