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S-Band Antenna

How it Works

A single S-band boom antenna on each satellite (deployed after launch by a pyrotechnic device) enables the satellite to communicate with Earth. There are small backup antennas on the top of each satellite to provide backup communication as required. Each satellite uses a separate set of S-band frequencies for transmission and reception.

Telecommunications is provided by a telemetry and telecommand and science data transmission subsystem that provides an interface between ground stations and onboard computers. It allows the satellites to communicate with Earth via radio systems in the microwave S-band spectrum. It receives telecommands and transmits onboard telemetry and science data from the instruments to the ground. It consists of two redundant transceivers coupled to one receive patch antenna and a receive/transmit helix antenna, plus an additional redundant transmit patch antenna.

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