AN ULTRAHIGH RATE DIGITAL TAPE RECORDER FOR SPACECRAFT APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Spaceborne digital recorders must satisfy the conflicting requirements of maximum data storage of high rate data (particularly for high resolution sensor data) and a long life with high reliability (meaning rugged design and moderate head-to-tape speeds). The multitrack longitudinal (fixed head) recorder can successfully resolve this conflict and satisfy both requirements. The evolutionary machine described herein was originally designed to store and reproduce 30 min of 39.9-Mb/s sensor data, for mission lives on the order of 1 year; newer designs have surpassed these parameters by significant amounts.