Assessment of 20 kW S-band transmitter

The performance history of the 20-kW S-band transmitter, installed at three 64-meter antennas and six 26-meter antennas in the DSN, is reviewed. A number of failures and discrepancy reports are characteristic of the wearout phase of a failure curve. The type of failures are reviewed and four options toward reducing the number and cost of failures are reviewed. These are: existing (no change), refurbish, redesign and replacement. The options are compared on a ten year life cycle cost basis using FY77 expenditures for existing equipment as a base. It was concluded that benefits, in terms of reduction of outrage time, increase with an increase of expenditure toward improvement.