Spaceborne Recording Systems for the Space Station Era

Abstract

A detailed review of spaceborne magnetic tape recorder technology from the late 1970s to the Space Station era is presented. Background information indicates the oft maligned space tape recorder has continued to demonstrate improving reliability since the marginal performances throughout the 1960s. Specifically, the SPOT recorder is reviewed in technical detail to show evolution through LANDSAT 6 and 7 versions, JERS-1, and finally the proposed ultimate version for Space Station/EOS. Enabling technologies include active tape tracking, magnetic recording head advances, and extensive use of ASIC devices to reduce the EEE piece part count. Suitability of the proposed Space Station/EOS recorder technologies for even more advanced future applications are discussed with data rates to 1 Gbps and storage capacities to 1 X 10¹² bits.