P

f
,

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

f
 ...

iii

VOYAGER BACKGROUNDER ..AUGUST 1981

For f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n : RELEASE NO: 81-116

C h a r l e s Redmond
NASA Headquarters. W a s h i n g t o n . D.C.
(Phone: 202/755-3680)

F r a n k Bristow
NASA J e t P r o p u l s i o n L a b o r a t o r y . P a s a d e n a . C a l i f
(Phone: 213/354-5011)
.
CONTENTS

VOYAGER SPACECRAFT .........................................

........................
S t r u c t u r e and C o n f i g u r a t i o n
1-26
3
Communications .....................................
.............................................. 8
Power
Computer Command S u b s y s t e m
Attitude Control
.........................
...................................
15
18
20
Injection Propulsion Control
Celestial Reference Control
.......................
........................ 21
22

Science Platform
.................... 242 3
T r a j e c t o r y C o r r e c t i o n Manuevers
...................................
Temperature C o n t r o l
VOYAGER EXPERIMENTS
................................ 2527-42
........................................
Cosmic Ray ......................................
Low-Energy C h a r g e d P a r t i c l e s ....................... a..27
28
..
Magnetic F i e l d s ....................................
Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer ............... 29
30
Photopolarimeter ...................................
P l a n e t a r y Radio Astronomy .......................... 31
32
Plasma
P l a s m a Wave
.............................................
........................................ 33
35
Radio S c i e n c e ......................................
......................................... 37
Television
U l t r a v i o l e t Spectrometer ........................... 4421
...............................
38
TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION
MISSION CONTROL AND COMPUTING CENTER
VOYAGER SUBCONT.CTORS
........................ .4946
.....................................
APPENDIX A: ................5582
..........................
E a r t h - S p a c e c r a f t Communications
APPENDIX B: N a v i g a t i o n Operations
iv
.

THE VOYAGER SPACECRAFT

The t w o i d e n t i c a l Voyager s p a c e c r a f t are d e s i g n e d t o
o p e r a t e a t g r e a t e r d i s t a n c e s from E a r t h and t h e Sun t h a n r e q u i r e d
by a n y p r e v i o u s m i s s i o n . Communications c a p a b i l i t y , h a r d w a r e
r e l i a b i l i t y , n a v i g a t i o n a n d t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l a r e among t h e
major c h a l l e n g e s t h a t had t o be m e t t o operate o v e r t h e t i m e of
t h e m i s s i o n , b e c a u s e of t h e E a r t h - s p a c e c r a f t d i s t a n c e s i n v o l v e d a n d
t h e wide r a n g e of e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n s e n c o u n t e r e d .

Each s p a c e c r a f t a t l a u n c h c o n s i s t e d of a m i s s i o n module
-- t h e planetary vehicle -- and a p r o p u l s i o n . m o d u l e , which p r o v i d e d
t h e f i n a l e n e r g y i n c r e m e n t t o i n j e c t t h e m i s s i o n module o n t o t h e
Jupiter trajectory. The propulsion module was j e t t i s o n e d a f t e r
t h e r e q u i r e d v e l o c i t y was a t t a i n e d . ( F o r t h e major p a r t of t h e

m i s s i o n , " s p a c e c r a f t " and " m i s s i o n module" w i l l be used i n t e r c h a n g e -

ably. In d e s c r i b i n g t h e pre-launch c o n f i g u r a t i o n and l a u n c h p h a s e ,
" s p a c e c r a f t " w i l l r e f e r t o t h e combined " m i s s i o n module" a n d " p r o -
p u l s i o n module. ")
The l a u n c h w e i g h t o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t was 2,066 k i l o g r a m s
(4,556 p o u n d s ) , i n c l u d i n g t h e p r o p u l s i o n module w i t h i t s l a r g e ,
s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t m o t o r t h a t weighed 1 , 2 0 7 k i l o g r a m s (2,660
pounds). A f t e r i n j e c t i o n t h e m i s s i o n module w e i g h e d 825 k i l o g r a m s

(1,819 pounds) i n c l u d i n g a 1 1 7 kilograms (258 pound) s c i e n c e

i n s t r u m e n t payload'.
L i k e t h e M a r i n e r s t h a t explored t h e i n n e r p l a n e t s a n d
t h e V i k i n g Mars o r b i t e r s , t h e Voyagers a r e s t a b i l i z e d o n t h r e e
axes u s i n g t h e Sun and a s t a r as c e l e s t i a l r e f e r e n c e s .

-1-
 Hot g a s j e t s p r o v i d e t h r u s t f o r a t t i t u d e s t a b i l i z a t i o n
and f o r t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n maneuvers.
T h r e e e n g i n e e r i n g s u b s y s t e m s are programmable f o r on-
b o a r d c o n t r o l o f most s p a c e c r a f t f u n c t i o n s . The t h r e e a r e t h e
computer command s u b s y s t e m (CCS), f l i g h t d a t a s u b s y s t e m (FDS) a n d
a t t i t u d e and a r t i c u l a t i o n c o n t r o l s u b s y s t e m ( A A C S ) . The memories
of t h e u n i t s can be u p d a t e d or m o d i f i e d b y g r o u n d command.
A n u c l e a r power s o u r c e -- three r a d i o i s o t o p e thermo-
electric generators -- p r o v i d e s e l e c t r i c a l power f o r t h e space-
craft .
The p o i n t a b l e s c i e n c e i n s t r u m e n t s a r e mounted on a t w o -
a x i s s c a n p l a t f o r m a t t h e end of t h e science boom. Other body-fixed
and boom-mounted i n s t r u m e n t s are a l i g n e d t o p r o v i d e f o r p r o p e r
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e i r measurements.
Data s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y o n t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s a b o u t 5 3 6

million b i t s -- a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e equivalent of 100 full-resolution

photos.
Dual-frequency communication l i n k s -- S-band a n d X-band
-- p r o v i d e accurate n a v i g a t i o n d a t a a n d l a r g e a m o u n t s o f s c i e n c e
i n f o r m a t i o n d u r i n g p l a n e t a r y e n c o u n t e r periods ( u p t o 115,200 b i t s
-. .. r --
p e r s e c o n d a t J u p i t e r and 44,800 b p s a t S a t u r n ) .
The d o m i n a n t f e a t u r e of t h e spacecraft i s t h e 3.66-meter
(12-foot) d i a m e t e r h i g h - g a i n antenna t h a t , a f t e r t h e f i r s t 80 d a y s
o f f l i g h t , almost c o n t i n u o u s l y p o i n t s toward E a r t h . P e r i o d i c e x c e p -
t i o n s are during t r a j e c t o r y - c o r r e c t i o n , c a l i b r a t i o n , or s c i e n c e
d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n a t t i t u d e maneuvers.
W h i l e t h e h i g h - g a i n a n t e n n a d i s h is w h i t e , most v i s i b l e

-2-
- .

p a r t s of t h e s p a c e c r a f t a r e b l a c k -- b l a n k e t e d o r wrapped f o r
t h e r m a l c o n t r o l and m i c r o m e t e o r o i d p r o t e c t i o n . A few s m a l l a r e a s

a r e f i n i s h e d i n g o l d f o i l or have p o l i s h e d aluminum s u r f a c e s .
S t r u c t u r e and C o n f i g u r a t i o n
The b a s i c m i s s i o n module s t r u c t u r e i s a 2 4 . 5 - k i l o g r a m
( 5 4 - p o u n d ) 1 0 - s i d e d aluminum framework w i t h 1 0 e l e c t r o n i c s p a c k a g i n g
compartments. The s t r u c t u r e i s 47 c e n t i m e t e r s ( 1 8 . 5 i n c h e s ) h i g h
a n d 1 7 8 centimeters ( 7 0 i n c h e s ) across from f l a t t o f l a t ; 1 8 8 c e n t i -
meters ( 7 4 i n c h e s ) from l o n g e r o n t o o p p o s i t e l o n g e r o n . The elec-
t r o n i c s assemblies a r e s t r u c t u r a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e 1 0 - s i d e d box.
The s p h e r i c a l p r o p e l l a n t t a n k t h a t c o n t a i n s f u e l f o r
h y d r a z i n e t h r u s t e r s f o r a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l and t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n
maneuvers o c c u p i e s t h e center c a v i t y o f t h e decagon. Propellant
l i n e s c a r r y hydrazine t o 1 2 small attitude-control and f o u r TCM
t h r u s t e r s o n t h e m i s s i o n module and t o l a r g e r t h r u s t - v e c t o r - c o n t r o l
e n g i n e s o n t h e p r o p u l s i o n module d u r i n g l a u n c h .
The 3.66-meter (12-foot) d i a m e t e r high-gain p a r a b o l i c
r e f l e c t o r is supported above t h e b a s i c s t r u c t u r e by a t u b u l a r t r u s s
work. The a n t e n n a r e f l e c t o r h a s a n aluminum honeycomb core a n d is
s u r f a c e d o n b o t h s i d e s by g r a p h i t e e p o x y l a m i n a t e s k i n s . A t t a c h -
ment to t h e t r u s s e s is along a 178-centimeter (70-inch) d i a m e t e r
support ring. The Sun s e n s o r p r o t r u d e s t h r o u g h a c u t o u t i n t h e

antenna dish. An X-band f e e d h o r n i s a t t h e c e n t e r of t h e r e f l e c t o r .

Two S-band f e e d h o r n s a r e mounted back-to-back w i t h t h e X-band
s u b - r e f l e c t o r on a three-legged t r u s s above t h e d i s h . One r a d i a t e s
tnrough t h e s u b - r e f l e c t o r , t r a n s p a r e n t a t S-.band, t o t h e h i g h - g a i n
dish. The o t h e r f u n c t i o n s as t h e l o w - g a i n a n t e n n a .

L -3-
 L o u v e r assemblies f o r t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l are f a s t e n e d t o

t h e o u t e r faces of two e l e c t r o n i c s c o m p a r t m e n t s -- those housing

t h e power c o n d i t i o n i n g a s s e m b l y and t h e r a d i o t r a n s m i t t e r power
amplifiers. T h e t o p and bottom of t h e 1 0 - s i d e d s t r u c t u r e a r e

enclosed w i t h m u l t i - l a y e r t h e r m a l b l a n k e t s .
Two Canopus s t a r tracker u n i t s are mounted s i d e - b y - s i d e and

p a r a l l e l atop t h e u p p e r ring of t h e d e c a g o n .
T h r e e r a d i o i s o t o p e t h e r m o e l e c t r i c g e n e r a t o r s are assembled

i n tandem on a d e p l o y a b l e boom h i n g e d on a n o u t r i g g e r a r r a n g e m e n t
of s t r u t s a t t a c h e d t o t h e basic s t r u c t u r e . The RTG boom i s
c o n s t r u c t e d of s t e e l and t i t a n i u m . Each RTG u n i t , c o n t a i n e d i n a
b e r y l l i u m o u t e r case, is 40.6 c e n t i m e t e r s (16 i n c h e s ) i n
diameter, 51 c e n t i m e t e r s ( 2 0 i n c h e s ) l o n g a n d w e i g h s 39 k i l o g r a m s
(86 pounds).
T h e s c i e n c e boom, s u p p o r t i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t s t h a t measure

e n e r g e t i c p a r t i c l e r a d i a t i o n , is l o c a t e d 1 8 0 degrees f r o m t h e RTG
boom and i s h i n g e d t o a t r u s s e x t e n d i n g o u t f r o m t h e d e c a g o n
behind t h e high-gain antenna. T h e boom, 2.3 meters ( 7 1 / 2 f e e t )

l o n g , i s a b r i d g e w o r k of g r a p h i t e epoxy t u b i n g . A t t a c h e d on
o p p o s i t e sides of t h e boom a t i t s m i d - p o i n t are t h e c o s m i c r a y
and l o w - e n e r g y c h a r g e d p a r t i c l e i n s t r u m e n t s . F a r t h e r o u t on t h e
boom is t h e p l a s m a science i n s t r u m e n t .
T h e two-axis s c a n p l a t f o r m is mounted a t t h e e n d of t h e boom

and p r o v i d e s p r e c i s i o n p o i n t i n g f o r f o u r r e m o t e - s e n s i n g i n s t r u -
ments -- t h e u l t r a v i o l e t s p e c t r o m e t e r , i n f r a r e d interferometer
s p e c t r o m e t e r amd radiometer, p h o t o p o l a r i m e t e r ( n o l o n g e r o p e r a t -
i n g on Voyager 1) and a two-camera i m a g i n g science s u b s y s t e m .
T o t a l p l a t f o r m g i m b a l l e d w e i g h t i s 1 0 0 k i l o g r a m s ( 2 2 0 pouncis).
W i t h b o t h t h e RTG and s c i e n c e booms d e p l o y e d , t h e near-

-4-
e s t boom-mounted i n s t r u m e n t t o a r a d i a t i o n source i s 4.8 meters
( 1 6 f e e t ) , w i t h t h e b u l k of t h e s p a c e c r a f t b e t w e e n t h e two. The
closest platform-mounted i n s t r u m e n t i s 6.4 meters ( 2 1 f e e t ) away.
A p a i r of 10-meter ( 3 3 - f o o t ) whip a n t e n n a s , d e p l o y e d
from a p o s i t i o n o u t s i d e t h e t o p r i n g o f t h e b a s i c s t r u c t u r e a n d
e x t e n d i n g down b e t w e e n t h e RTG boom o u t r i g g e r members, are p a r t of
t h e p l a n e t a r y r a d i o a s t r o n o m y (PRA) i n s t r u m e n t p a c k a g e a n d are

s h a r e d w i t h t h e plasma wave i n s t r u m e n t (PWS). The PRA and PWS

assemblies a r e body-mounted adjacently. The b e r y l l i u m - c o p p e r
t u b i n g a n t e n n a s , which form a r i g h t a n g l e , were r o l l e d f l a t i n
t h e i r h o u s i n g b e f o r e d e p l o y m e n t b y s m a l l e l e c t r i c motors.

The m a g n e t i c f i e l d s e x p e r i m e n t c o n s i s t s of a n e l e c t r o n i c s
s u b a s s e m b l y located i n o n e of t h e m i s s i o n module e l e c t r o n i c s b a y s
and f o u r m a g n e t o m e t e r s -- t w o high-field sensors affixed to the
s p a c e c r a f t and t w o l o w - f i e l d s e n s o r s mounted o n a 13-meter (43-

f o o t ) d e p l o y a b l e boom. The boom, c o n s t r u c t e d of epoxy g l a s s ,

s p i r a l l e d f r o m i t s stowed p o s i t i o n i n a n aluminum c y l i n d e r t o form
a r i g i d t r i a n g u l a r mast w i t h one m a g n e t o m e t e r a t t a c h e d t o i t s e n d
p l a t e a n d a n o t h e r p o s i t i o n e d 6 meters ( 2 0 f e e t ) closer t o t h e
- -. . ~ --
spacecraft. The mast w e i g h s 2.26 k i l o g r a m s ( f i v e p o u n d s ) , a few
o u n c e s less t h a n t h e c a b l i n g r u n n i n g i t s l e n g t h and c a r r y i n g power
t o and d a t a from t h e m a g n e t o m e t e r s . The boom h o u s i n g i s a 2.8-
centimeter ( n i n e - i n c h ) d i a m e t e r c y l i n d e r , 66 c e n t i m e t e r s ( 2 6 i n c h e s )
l o n g , s u p p o r t e d by t h e RTG o u t r i g g e r . The mast u n c o i l s i n h e l i x
f a s h i o n a l o n g a l i n e between t h e rear face of t h e h i g h - g a i n a n t e n n a
and t h e RTC’ boom.
The b a s i c s t r u c t u r e of t h e discarded p r o p u l s i o n m o d u l e
was a 43.54-kilogram (96-pound) aluminum semi-monocoque s h e l l .
The c y l i n d e r , 99 c e n t i m e t e r s ( 3 9 i n c h e s ) i n d i a m e t e r a n d 89 c e n t i -
meters ( 3 5 i n c h e s ) l o n g , was s u s p e n d e d below t h e m i s s i o n module
s t r u c t u r e by a n eight-member t u b u l a r t r u s s adapter. The h o l l o w of

t h e s t r u c t u r e c o n t a i n e d t h e s o l i d r o c k e t motor t h a t d e l i v e r e d t h e
f i n a l powered s t a g e of f l i g h t . The r o c k e t , which weighed 1 , 1 2 3
kilograms (2,475 pounds) i n c l u d i n g 1,039 kilograms (2,290 pounds)
o f p r o p e l l a n t , d e v e l o p e d a n a v e r a g e 15,300 pounds t h r u s t d u r i n g
i t s 43-second burn d u r a t i o n .
Mounted o n o u t r i g g e r s from t h e s t r u c t u r e were e i g h t
h y d r a z i n e e n g i n e s t h a t provided a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l d u r i n g t h e solid-
motor b u r n . H y d r a z i n e f u e l was s u p p l i e d f r o m t h e m i s s i o n module.
A p a i r o f b a t t e r i e s and a remote d r i v e r module f o r power-
ing t h e valve d r i v e r s t o t h e thrust-vector-control e n g i n e s were
p o s i t i o n e d o n t h e o u t e r f a c e of t h e c y l i n d r i c a l p r o p u l s i o n module
structure.
A four-square-foot shunt radiator/science c a l i b r a t i o n
t a r g e t f a c e s o u t w a r d f r o m t h e p r o p u l s i o n module t r u s s a d a p t e r
toward t h e s c a n p l a t f o r m . The d u a l - p u r p o s e s t r u c t u r e i s a f l a t
s a n d w i c h o f t w o aluminum r a d i a t i n g surfaces l i n i n g a honeycomb
core. Through power c o l l e c t o r s a n d emitter r e s i s t o r s b e t w e e n t h e
p l a t e s , a n y amount of t h e e l e c t r i c a l power from t h e RTGs c a n be
r a d i a t e d t o space a s h e a t . The o u t e r s u r f a c e a l s o s e r v e s a s a
photometric c a l i b r a t i o n t a r g t ' t f o r t h e remote-sensing s c i e n c e
instruments on t h e scan platform.
The s h u n t r a d i a t o r and t h e p r o p u l s i o n - m o d t i l e t r u s s adapter

r e m a i n e d when t h e p r o p u l s i o n module was j e t t i s o n e d .

-6-
 Steel a l l o y / g o l d f o i l plume d e f l e c t o r s e x t e n d e d from t h e
p r o p u l s i o n module t o s h i e l d t h e s t o w e d RTGs and s c a n p l a t f o r m from
rocket exhaust during engine f i r i n g .
The s p a c e c r a f t a d a p t e r , a t r u n c a t e d aluminum c o n e , j o i n e d
t h e p r o p u l s i o n module t o t h e C e n t a u r s t a g e of t h e l a u n c h v e h i c l e .

The a d a p t e r , 7 6 c e n t i m e t e r s ( 3 0 i n c h e s ) t a l l , was 1 6 0 c e n t i m e t e r s
(63 i n c h e s ) i n diameter a t t h e b a s e ( C e n t a u r a t t a c h m e n t ) , 99
c e n t i m e t e r s (39 i n c h e s ) a t t h e s p a c e c r a f t s e p a r a t i o n j o i n t a n d
w e i g h e d 36 k i l o g r a m s ( 7 9 p o u n d s ) . The a d a p t e r r e m a i n e d w i t h t h e
Centaur r o c k e t s t a g e a t s p a c e c r a f t s e p a r a t i o n .
Launch C o n f i g u r a t i o n
Some m e c h a n i c a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t were r i g i d l y
restrained a g a i n s t t h e s e v e r e v i b r a t i o n d u r i n g launch. After
l a u n c h , a p p e n d a g e s t h a t had been l a t c h e d s e c u r e l y w i t h i n t h e C e n t a u r
s t a g e n o s e f a i r i n g were d e p l o y e d t o t h e i r c r u i s e p o s i t i o n s .
The p y r o t e c h n i c s u b s y s t e m p r o v i d e d s i m p l e and p o s i t i v e
deployment w i t h e x p l o s i v e squibs. D e v i c e s stowed s e c u r e l y d u r i n g
l a u n c h and r e l e a s e d f o r d e p l o y m e n t b y t h e p y r o t e c h n i c s u b s y s t e m
were t h e s c i e n c e boom, RTG boom and m a g n e t o m e t e r boom. Uncertainty
c o n c e r n i n g t h e f u l l d e p l o y m e n t and l o c k i n g o f t h e s c i e n c e boom o n
Voyager 2, f i r s t s p a c e c r a f t l a u n c h e d , e x i s t e d f o r s e v e r a l weeks.
The p y r o t e c h n i c s u b s y s t e m a l s o r o u t e d power t o d e v i c e s
t o s e p a r a t e s p a c e c r a f t from l a u n c h v e h i c l e , a c t i v a t e d t h e prop-
u l s i o n module b a t t e r i e s , i g n i t e d t h e s o l i d - p r o p e l l a n t r o c k e t motor,
s e a l e d o f f t h e p r c p e l l a n t l i n e c a r r y i n g h y d r a z i n e from t h e m i s s i o n
module t o t h e propLi3.sion module, j e t t i s o n e d t h e p r o p u l s i o n m c d u l e
a n d released t h e IRIS d u s t c o v e r . T h a t s u b s y s t e m is no l o n g e r u s e d .

-7-
Communications
Communication w i t h t h e V o y a g e r s i s by r a d i o l i n k b e t w e e n
E a r t h t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n s and a d u a l - f r e q u e n c y r a d i o s y s t e m a b o a r d

each spacecraft.
The u p l i n k operates a t S-band o n l y , c a r r y i n g commands
a n d r a n g i n g s i g n a l s from g r o u n d s t a t i o n s t o o n e of a p a i r of r e d u n -
dant receivers. The d o w n l i n k i s t r a n s m i t t e d f r o m t h e s p a c e c r a f t
a t b o t h S-band a n d X-band frequencies.
The on-board c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s y s t e m a l s o i n c l u d e s a program-
m a b l e f l i g h t d a t a s u b s y s t e m (FDS), m o d u l a t i o n / d e m o d u l a t i o n s u b s y s t e m
(MDS), d a t a s t o r a g e s u b s y s t e m (DSS) and h i g h - g a i n and low-gain
antennas.
The FDS, o n e of t h e three on-board computers, c o n t r o l s
t h e s c i e n c e i n s t r u m e n t s and f o r m a t s a l l s c i e n c e and e n g i n e e r i n g
data for telemetry t o Earth. The t e l e m e t r y m o d u l a t i o n u n i t (TMU)

o f t h e MDS f e e d s d a t a t o t h e d o w n l i n k . The f l i g h t command u n i t

( F C U ) o f t h e M D S routes g r o u n d commands r e c e i v e d b y t h e s p a c e c r a f t .

Only o n e r e c e i v e r i s powered a t a n y o n e t i m e , w i t h - t h e __
redundant r e c e i v e r a t standby. The r e c e i v e r o p e r a t e s c o n t i n u o u s l y
d u r i n g t h e m i s s i o n a t a b o u t 2113 m e g a h e r t z . Different frequency
r a n g e s h a v e b e e n a s s i g n e d t o t h e r a d i o - f r e q u e n c y s u b s y s t e m of e a c h
spacecraft. The r e c e i v e r c a n be u s e d w i t h e i t h e r t h e h i g h - g a i n or
low-gain a n t e n n a . Voyager 2's p r i m a r y r e c e i v e r f a i l e d o n A p r i l 5,
1978, a n d t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s o p e r a t i n g o n i t s b a c k u p r e c e i v e r , which
i s a l s o c r i p p l e d w i t h a p a r t i a l f a i l u r e of t h a t p o r t i o n of t h e
r e c e i v e r t h a t acquires and t r a c k s t h e t r a n t i v i t t e d s i g n a l .
(Appendix A c o n t a i n s a d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of Voyager 2

-8-
communication problem, the process used to accommodate the operations
limitation imposed by the problem, and some of the communications
features of the Voyager 2 Saturn encounter.)
The S-band transmitter consists of two redundant exciters
and two redundant RF power amplifiers, of which any combination is
possible. Only one exciter-amplifier combination operates at any
one time. Selection of the combination is by on-board failure-
detection logic within the computer command subsystem (CCS), with
ground-command backup. The same arrangement of exciter-amplifier
combinations makes up the X-band transmitting unit.
One S-band and both X-band amplifiers emp-ley traveling
wave tubes (TWT). The second S-band unit is a solid state ampli-
fier. The S-band transmitter is capable of operating at 9 . 4 watts
or at 28.3 watts when switched to high power and can radiate from
both antennae. X-band power output is 12 watts and 21.3 watts.
X-band uses only the high-gain antenna. (S-band and X-band never
operate at high power simultaneously. )
When no uplink signal is being received, the transmitted
S-band frequency of about 2295 MHz and X-band frequency of 8418 MHz
originate in the S-band exciter's auxiliary oscillator or in a
separate ultra-stable oscillator (one-way tracking). With the
receiver phase-locked to an uplink signal, the receiver provides
the frequency source for both transmitters (two-way tracking).
The radio system can also operate with the receiver locked to an
uplink signdl while the downlink carrier frequencies are determined
by the on-board oscillators jtwo-way noncoherent tracking).
Both the 64-meter (210-foot) and 34-meter (112-foot)
a n t e n n a s t a t i o n s of t h e Deep S p a c e N e t w o r k c a n r e c e i v e t h e

d o w n l i n k X-band s i g n a l . The e n t i r e 6 4 - m e t e r f 34-meter a n d 26-

meter ( 8 5 - f o o t ) a n t e n n a s t a t i o n s a r e capable o f r e c e i v i n g a t S-
band .
T h e X-band d o w n l i n k was not n o r m a l l y u s e d d u r i n g t h e f i r s t
80 days of t h e m i s s i o n -- u n t i l E a r t h was w i t h i n t h e beam of t h e
s p a c e c r a f t ' s high-gain antenna. Communications d u r i n g l a u n c h ,
n e a r - E a r t h and e a r l y c r u i s e p h a s e o p e r a t i o n s were c o n f i n e d t o S-

band a n d t h e l o w - g a i n a n t e n n a . An e x c e p t i o n o c c u r r e d e a r l y i n
t h e f l i g h t when t h e s p a c e c r a f t , on i n e r t i a l c o n t r o l , p o i n t e d t h e

h i g h - g a i n a n t e n n a toward E a r t h t o s u p p o r t i n s t r u m e n t c a l i b r a t i o n
and a n o p t i c a l n a v i g a t i o n / h i g h - r a te t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s l i n k
test. D u r i n g i t s c a l i b r a t i o n s e q u e n c e on S e p t . 1 8 , 1 9 7 7 , Voyager
1 t o o k p i c t u r e s o f Earth-Moon s y s t e m .
The h i g h - g a i n a n t e n n a , w i t h 3 . 6 6 - m e t e r - d i a m e t e r (12 f e e t )
p a r a b o l i c r e f l e c t o r , p r o v i d e s a h i g h l y d i r e c t i o n a l beam. The
low-gain antenna provides e s s e n t i a l l y uniform coverage i n the
d i r e c t i o n of E a r t h .
Under normal c o n d i t i o n s , a f t e r t h e f i r s t 80 d a y s of t h e
m i s s i o n , a l l communications -- b o t h S-band and X-band -- have
been v i a t h e high-gain antenna. The n o r m a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n

c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r t h e Voyager 2 S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r i s f o r t h e X-
band t r a n s m i t t e r t o o p e r a t e a t h i g h power and t h e S-band
t r a n s m i t t e r t o o p e r a t e a t low power. The o n l y v a r i a t i o n s t o t h a t

c o n f i g u r a t i o n a r e d u r i n g E a r t h - o c c u l t a t i o n entrance and e x i t when

t h e S-band is a t h i g h power and t h e X-band i s a t low -power.

Low-power X-band i s a l s o u s e d d c r i n g two I R I S c a l i b r a t i o n s , when

b o t h t h e S-band and X-band t r a n s m i t t e r s a r e a t low power.
 -
Commanding t h e S p a c e c r a f t
Ground commands a r e used t o p u t i n t o e x e c u t i o n selected

f l i g h t sequences, t o cause e x e c u t i o n o f d i s c r e t e e v e n t s , or t o
cope w i t h u n e x p e c t e d e v e n t s . Commands a r e i s s u e d i n e i t h e r a
pre-determined, t i m e d sequence v i a on-board p r o g r a m c o n t r o l o r

d i r e c t l y a s r e c e i v e d from t h e ground. Most commands are i s s u e d by

t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s c o m p u t e r command s u b s y s t e m ( C C S ) i n i t s role a s
"sequencer-of-events" and by t h e f l i g h t d a t a s u b s y s t e m ( F D S ) as
c o n t r o l l e r of t h e science instruments.
A l l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s between s p a c e c r a f t and E a r t h a r e i n

d i g i t a l form. Command s i g n a l s , t r a n s m i t t e d a t 1 6 b i t s p e r s e c o n d
( b p s ) t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t , a r e detected i n t h e f l i g h t command u n i t
and r o u t e d t o t h e C C S f o r f u r t h e r r o u t i n g t o t h e i r p r o p e r d e s t i n a t i o n .
Ground commands t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t f a l l i n t o t w o major c a t e g o r i e s :
d i s c r e t e commands (DC), and coded commands ( C C ) .
A d i s c r e t e command c a u s e s a s i n g l e a c t i o n o n t h e s p a c e -
craft. F o r e x a m p l e , DC-2D s w i t c h e s t h e S-band amplifier to high
. _ -
power: DC-2DR, S-band a m p l i f i e r l o w power; DC-2E, S-band t r a n s m i t s
from h i g h - g a i n a n t e n n a : DC-2ER, S-band t r a n s m i t s low-gain. Coded
commands a r e t h e t r a n s f e r of d i g i t a l d a t a from t h e computer command
s y s t e m or f r o m t h e g r o u n d v i a t h e CCS t o user s u b s y s t e m s . Subsys-
tems r e c e i v i n g coded commands are f l i g h t d a t a , a t t i t u d e a n d a r t i c -
u l a t i o n c o n t r o l , modulation/demodulation, d a t a s t o r a g e and power.
Downlink Teleinetrv
Data telemetered from t h e s p a c e c r a f t c o n s i s t s of e n g i n e e r -
i n g a n d science m e a s u r e m e n t s p r e p a r e ? f o r t r a n s m i s s i o n b y t h e
f l i g h t data subsystem, t e l e m e t r y m o d u l a t i o n u n i t and data s t o r a g e

-11-
subsystem. The e n c o d e d i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l i n d i c a t e v o l t a g e s , p r e s -

s u r e s , t e m p e r a t u r e s , t e l e v i s i o n p i c t u r e s and o t h e r v a l u e s measured
b y t h e s p a c e c r a f t t e l e m e t r y sensors a n d s c i e n c e i n s t r u m e n t s .
Two t e l e m e t r y c h a n n e l s -- low r a t e and h i g h r a t e -- are
provided f o r t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n of s p a c e c r a f t data. The low r a t e
c h a n n e l f u n c t i o n s o n l y a t S-band a t a s i n g l e 4 0 - b i t s - p e r - s e c o n d
d a t a r a t e and c o n t a i n s real-time e n g i n e e r i n g d a t a e x c l u s i v e l y .
I t i s o n o n l y d u r i n g p l a n e t a r y e n c o u n t e r s when t h e h i g h - r a t e chan-
n e l i s o p e r a t i n g a t X-band.
The h i g h - r a t e c h a n n e l i s o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e m i s s i o n . I t
o p e r a t e s a t e i t h e r S-band o r X-band and c o n t a i n s t h e f o l l o w i n g
types of data:

O Engineering o n l y a t 40 b i t s p e r second or 1 , 2 0 0 bps

( t h e h i g h e r d a t a r a t e u s u a l l y occurs o n l y d u r i n g
l a u n c h and t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n maneuvers) t r a n s m i t t e d
a t S-band o n l y .
O Real-time c r u i s e science a n d e n g i n e e r i n g a t 2,560,

1 , 2 8 0 , 640, 320, 1 6 0 a n d 80 bps. Reduced d a t a r a t e s

r e s u l t i n r e d u c e d i n s t r u m e n t s a m p l i n g . Data r a t e i s
r e d u c e d o n l y when t h e t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s l i n k c a n -
not support the higher rate.
O Real-time e n c o u n t e r g e n e r a l s c i e n c e and e n g i n e e r i n g
a t 7.2 k i l o b i t s p e r second ( a special 115.2 k b p s r a t e
was a v a i l a b l e a t J u p i t e r f o r t h e p l a n e t a r y r a d i o
a s t r o n o m y i n d plasma wave i n s t r u m e n t s ) t r a n s m i t t e d
a t X-band 0. l y .

O Real-time e n c o u n t e r g e n e r a l s c i e n c e , e n g i n e e r i n g a n d

-12-
 t e l e v i s i o n a t 1 1 5 . 2 , 89.6, 67.2, 44.8, 29.866 2/3 a n d
1 9 . 2 k b p s t r a n s m i t t e d a t X-band o n l y . The maximum
u s a b l e d a t a r a t e a t S a t u r n i s 44.8 k b p s .
* Real-time e n c o u n t e r g e n e r a l s c i e n c e and e n g i n e e r i n g ,
p l u s t a p e r e c o r d e r p l a y b a c k , a t 67.2 and 4 4 . 8 k b p s
a n d 29,866 2/3 bps t r a n s m i t t e d a t X-band o n l y . The
maximum u s a b l e d a t a r a t e a t S a t u r n i s 44.8 k b p s .

O P l a y b a c k r e c o r d e d d a t a o n l y a t 21.6 and 7.2 k b p s

t r a n s m i t t e d a t X-band o n l y .
O Memory d a t a s t o r e d i n t h e t h r e e on-board computers --
CCS, FDS and AACS -- r e a d o u t and p l a y e d back a t
40 o r 1 2 0 0 bps t r a n s m i t e d a t e i t h e r S-band o r X-band
( t r e a t e d as engineering d a t a ) .

The many d a t a r a t e s f o r e a c h t y p e o f t e l e m e t e r e d i n f o r m a -
t i o n a r e r e q u i r e d by t h e c h a n g i n g l e n g t h o f t h e t e l e c ' o m m u n i c a t i o n s
l i n k w i t h E a r t h a n d t h e p o s s i b l e a d v e r s e e f f e c t s of E a r t h w e a t h e r

upon r e c e p t i o n of X-band radio signals.

I n o r d e r t o allow r e a l - t i m e transmission of v i d e o i n f o r -
mation a t each encounter, t h e f l i g h t d a t a subsystem can handle t h e
i m a g i n g d a t a a t s i x d o w n l i n k r a t e s from 1 1 5 . 2 t o 1 9 . 2 kbps. The
115.2-kbps r a t e r e p r e s e n t s t h e s t a n d a r d f u l l - f r a m e r e a d o u t ( a t 48
s e c o n d s per f r a m e ) of t h e TV v i d i c o n . Under n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n s ,
t h a t r a t e was u s e d a t J u p i t e r . Full-frame, f u l l - r e s o l u t i o n TV
f r o m S a t u r n c a n b e o b t a i n e d by i n c r e a s i n g t h e frame r e a d o u t t i m e
t o 1 4 4 s e c o n d s ( 3 t l ' s l o w s c a n ) and t r a n s m i t t i n g t h e d a t a a t 44.8
kbps. A number of o t h e r s l o w s c a n a n d f r a m c - e d i t o p t i o n s are
a v a i l a b l e t o match t h e capability o f t h e t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s l i n k .

-13-
 T h e d a t a - s t o r a g e s u b s y s t e m i s a d i g i t a l tape recorder which

can record a t two rates: TV p i c t u r e s , g e n e r a l s c i e n c e a n d

e n g i n e e r i n g a t 115.2 kbps; g e n e r a l s c i e n c e a n d e n g i n e e r i n g a t 7 . 2
k b p s ; a n d e n g i n e e r i n g o n l y a t 7 . 2 k b p s ( e n g i n e e r i n g i s acquired

a t o n l y 1 , 2 0 0 b p s , b u t is f o r m a t t e d w i t h f i l l e r t o m a t c h t h e
recorder input rate). The t a p e t r a n s p o r t i s b e l t - d r i v e n . Its
1 / 2 - i n c h magnetic t a p e is 328 meters (1,075 f e e t ) l o n g and is
d i v i d e d i n t o e i g h t tracks t h a t a r e r e c o r d e d s e q u e n t i a l l y one
track a t a t i m e . T o t a l r e c y c l e a b l e s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y i s a b o u t 536
million b i t s -- t h e e q u i v a l e n t of 1 0 0 TV p i c t u r e s . Playback is
a t one of f o u r s p e e d s --
5 7 . 6 , 33.6, 21.6 and 7 . 2 kbps.
Downlink t e l e m e t r y d a t a r a t e s are maximized d u r i n g t h e
S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r by t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s r e c e i p t a n d p r o c e s s i n g o f
t h e r e c e i v e d s i g n a l f r o m t h e s p a c e c r a f t by two c o - l o c a t e d g r o u n d
a n t e n n a s (one 64-meter and one 3 4 - m e t e r ) . G o l d s t o n e , S p a i n and
Australia have c o - l o c a t e d s t a t i o n s p r o v i d i n g t h e a r r a y e d
capability. Combining t h e r e c e i v e d s p a c e c r a f t s i g n a l r e s u l t s i n
a p p r o x i m a t e l y a one-ldB improvement i n s i g n a l - t o - n o i s e r a t i o .
T h a t i s e q u i v a l e n t t o h a v i n g one 7 2 - m e t e r station a t each
location. Loss of a 34-meter s t a t i o n d u r i n g a n y a r r a y e d t r a c k
would r e s u l t i n a r e d u c t i o n o f d a t a q u a n t i t y or q u a l i t y , b u t n o t
__ -. -- --
i n t h e loss of a l l d a t a . Loss of t h e 64-meter a n t e n n a would
r e s u l t i n t h e loss of X-band c a p a b i l i t y , r e d u c i n g a v a i l a b l e d a t a
t o e n g i n e e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n only.

Trackinq the Spacecraft f o r Navigation

V e r y precise n a v i g a t i o n is r e q u i r e d t o a c h i e v e t h e d e s i r e d
maneuver and f l y b y a c c u r a c i e s f o r a m u l t i - p l a n e t / s a t e l l i t e

e nco un t e r m i s s i o 11 .
R a d i o m e t r i c o b s e r v a t i o n s made by a t r a c k i n g s t a t i o n o n E a r t h

-14-
u s i n g r a d i o s i g n a l s t o and from t h e s p a c e c r a f t are i m p o r t a n t i n
d e t e r m i n i n g t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s p o s i t i o n and v e l o c i t y . The r a d i o

d a t a combined w i t h p h o t o g r a p h s of selected s a t e l l i t e s a g a i n s t t h e
b a c k g r o u n d of known s t a r s taken by t h e cameras p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r -

mation necessary f o r t h e precise navigation required. (Appendix

B c o n t a i n s a d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e Voyager n a v i g a t i o n p r o c e s s ,
i n c l u d i n g d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e t y p e s of d a t a used, o r b i t d e t e r m i -
nation, t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n , t h e Voyager 2 t a r g e t i n g s t r a t e g y
a n d t h e Voyager 2 n a v i g a t i o n s t a t u s as of May 1 5 , 1 9 8 1 . )
Power
T h e Voyager power s u b s y s t e m s u p p l i e s a l l e l e c t r i c a l power t o

t h e s p a c e c r a f t by g e n e r a t i n g , c o n v e r t i n g , c o n d i t i o n i n g and
s w i t c h i n g t h e power.
Power source f o r t h e m i s s i o n module i s a n a r r a y of three
radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The propulsion

m o d u l e , a c t i v e o n l y d u r i n g t h e b r i e f i n j e c t i o n p h a s e of t h e
m i s s i o n , used a s e p a r a t e b a t t e r y s o u r c e ; no o t h e r b a t t e r i e s a r e
used o n t h e s p a c e c r a f t b e c a u s e of t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r l o n g m i s s i o n
life.
T h e RTG u n i t s , mounted i n tandem on a d e p l o y a b l e boom a n d

connected i n p a r a l l e l , convert to e l e c t r i c i t y t h e h e a t r e l e a s e d
by t h e i s o t o p i c d e c a y of Plutonium-238. Each i s o t o p e heat source
h a s a c a p a c i t y of 2,400 w a t t s t h e r m a l w i t h a r e s u l t a n t maximum

e l e c t r i c a l power o u t p u t of 1 6 0 watts a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e
mission. T h e r e is a g r a d u a l d e c r e a s e i n power o u t p u t . The t o t a l

power a v a i l a b l e from t h e t h r e e RTGs on each Voyager r a n g e s from

a b o u t 475 w a t t s w i t h i n a few h o u r s a f t e r l a u n c h t o 430 w a t t s

after the spacecraft pass Saturn.

S p a c e c r a f t power requirements from l a u n c h t o p o s t - S a t u r n

-15-
o p e r a t i o n s a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h i s g e n e r a l power t i m e l i n e :

l a u n c h and p o s t - l a u n c h , 235 t o 265 watts; i n t e r p l a n e t a r y cruise,

320 t o 365 watts; J u p i t e r e n c o u n t e r , 350 t o 370 watts: Saturn
e n c o u n t e r , 377 t o 382 watts; and p o s t - S a t u r n , l e s s t h a n 365
watts.
T e l e m e t r y measurements have been s e l e c t e d t o p r o v i d e t h e
n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n f o r power management by ground command, i f
needed .
Power from t h e RTGs is h e l d a t a constant 30 v o l t s d c by a
shunt regulator. T h e power i s s u p p l i e d d i r e c t l y t o some

s p a c e c r a f t users and i s s w i t c h e d t o o t h e r s i n t h e power d i s t r i -

b u t i o n subassembly. The m a i n power i n v e r t e r i s a l s o s u p p l i e d 30
v o l t s d c f o r c o n v e r s i o n t o 2.4 k i l o h e r t z square wave used by most
s p a c e c r a f t subsystems. Again, t h e ac power may be s u p p l i e d
d i r e c t l y t o users or c a n b e s w i t c h e d on or o f f by power r e l a y s .
Command-actuated r e l a y s c o n t r o l t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of power i n
the spacecraft. Some r e l a y s f u n c t i o n as s i m p l e on-off switches
and o t h e r s t r a n s f e r power from one module t o another w i t h i n a
subsystem.
Among t h e users of dc power, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i n v e r t e r ,
are t h e r a d i o s u b s y s t e m , g y r o s , p r o p u l s i o n i s o l a t i o n v a l v e s , some
science i n s t r u m e n t s , m o s t t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l h e a t e r s a n d t h e
motors t h a t deloyed t h e p l a n e t a r y radio astronomy antennas.
O t h e r elements of t h e s p a c e c r a f t use t h e 2.4 khz power.
T h e r e are two i d e n t i c a l 2;4 khz power i n v e r t e r s m a i n and --
standby. T h e m a i n i n v e r t e r i s on from l a u n c h and remains on

throughout the mission. I n c a s e of a m a l f u n c t i o n or f a i l u r e i n

t h e mai? i n v e r t e r , t h e power c h a i n , a f t e r a l.5-,:econd d e l a y , is
-16-
switched automatically to t h e standby inverter. Once t h e s w i t c h -
o v e r i s made, i t i s i r r e v e r s i b l e .
A 4.8 khz s y n c and t i m i n g s i g n a l f r o m t h e f l i g h t d a t a

s u b s y s t e m is used as a f r e q u e n c y r e f e r e n c e i n t h e i n v e r t e r . The
f r e q u e n c y i s d i v i d e d by two a n d t h e o u t p u t i s 2.4 k h z p l u s - o r - m i n u s
0.002%. T h i s t i m i n g s i g n a l i s s e n t , i n t u r n , t o t h e c o m p u t e r com-
mand s u b s y s t e m , which c o n t a i n s t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s master c l o c k .
Because o f t h e l o n g m i s s i o n l i f e t i m e , c h a r g e d c a p a c i t o r
e n e r g y - s t o r a g e banks are used i n s t e a d o f b a t t e r i e s t o s u p p l y t h e
short-term e x t r a power demanded b y i n s t a n t a n e o u s o v e r l o a d s t h a t
would cause t h e main d c power v o l t a g e t o d i p below a c c e p t a b l e
limits. A t y p i c a l h e a v y t r a n s i e n t o v e r l o a d occurs a t t u r n - o n o f
a r a d i o power a m p l i f i e r .
F u l l o u t p u t o f t h e R T G s , a c o n s t a n t power source, m u s t

be u s e d o r d i s s i p a t e d i n some way t o p r e v e n t o v e r h e a t i n g o f t h e

g e n e r a t o r u n i t s and d c v o l t a g e r i s i n g a b o v e allowed maximum. F u l l

u s e i s c o n t r o l l e d by a s h u n t r e g u l a t o r t h a t dumps excess RTG o u t p u t
power a b o v e t h a t r e q u i r e d t o o p e r a t e t h e s p a c e c r a f t . The e x c e s s
power is d i s s i p a t e d i n r e s i s t o r s i n t h e s h u n t r a d i a t o r mounted

o u t s i d e t h e s p a c e c r a f t a n d r a d i a t e d i n t o s p a c e - as h e a t . -. -., --
Two b a t t e r i e s i n d e p e n d e n t l y s u p p l i e d u n r e g u l a t e d d c

power t o a remote d r i v e r module (RDM) f o r p o w e r i n g v a l v e d r i v e r s

to the thrust-vector-control e n g i n e s on t h e p r o p u l s i o n module
d u r i n g t h e i n j e c t i o n p h a s e of t h e m i s s i o n . The b a t t e r i e s and t h e
RDM a r e located i n t h e p r o p u l s i o n mcdule t h a t was j e t t i s o n e d a

few m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e m i s s i o n module was placed o n t h e J u p i t e r

trajectory. Each b a t t e r y w a s composed of 2 2 s i l v e r o x i d e - z i n c

-17-
c e l l s w i t h a c a p a c i t y of 1 , 2 0 0 ampere s e c o n d s a t 28 t o 4 0 v o l t s ,
d e p e n d i n g upon t h e l o a d .
B a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t o n t h e b a t t e r i e s was h i g h power f o r a

short period -- 1 2 m i n u t e s . W i t h a l i f e t i m e of o n l y 6 6 m i n u t e s ,

t h e b a t t e r i e s were k e p t i n e r t u n t i l j u s t f o u r s e c o n d s b e f o r e C e n t a u r

s e p a r a t i o n a n d 20 s e c o n d s before s o l i d rocket i g n i t i o n . After

a c t i v a t i o n , i n which a n e l e c t r o l y t e was i n j e c t e d i n t o t h e c e l l s ,
t h e b a t t e r i e s were a t f u l l v o l t a g e i n o n e - h a l f second and r e a d y
f o r u s e i n t w o seconds.
C o m p u t e r Command S u b s y s t e m

T h e h e a r t o f t h e on-board c o n t r o l s y s t e m i s t h e computer
command s u b s y s t e m ( C C S ) , w h i c h p r o v i d e s a semi-automatic c a p a b i l i t y
to the spacecraft.
The CCS i n c l u d e s t w o i n d e p e n d e n t memories, e a c h w i t h a
c a p a c i t y o f 4 , 0 9 6 d a t a words. Half o f e a c h memory s t o r e s r e u s a b l e

f i x e d r o u t i n e s t h a t d o n o t change d u r i n g t h e m i s s i o n . The s e c o n d
h a l f i s reprogrammable b y u p d a t e s from t h e g r o u n d .
Most commands t o o t h e r s p a c e c r a f t s u b s y s t e m s a r e i s s u e d
f r o m t h e C C S memory, w h i c h , a t a n y g i v e n time, i s loaded w i t h t h e
sequence a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e m i s s i o n p h a s e . The CCS a l s o c a n
decode commands from t h e g r o u n d a n d pass them a l o n g t o o t h e r space-

c r a f t subsystems.
Under c o n t r o l o f a n a c c u r a t e on-board c l o c k , t h e CCS
c o u n t s h o u r s , m i n u t e s or s e c o n d s u n t i l some pre-programmed interval
h a s elapsed and t h e n b r a n c h e s i n t o s u b r o u t i n e s stored i n t h e memory
t h a t r e s u l t s i n commands t o o t h e r s u b s y s t s m s . A sequencing e v e n t
c a n be a s i n g l e command or a r o u t i n e t h a t i n c l u d e s many commands

-18-
(e.g ., manipulating the tape recorder during a playback sequence . )

The CCS can issue commands singly from one of its two
processors or in parallel or tandem from both processors. An

example of CCS dual control is the execution of trajectory correc-

tion maneuvers.
TCM thrusters are started with a tandem command (both
processors must send consistent commands to a single output unit)
and stopped with a parallel command (either processor working
through different output units will stop the burn).
The CCS can survive any single internal fault; each
functional unit has a duplicate elsewhere in the subsystem.
Attitude Control and Propulsion
Stabilization and orientation of the spacecraft from
launch-vehicle separation until end of the mission is provided by
two major engineering subsystems -- attitude and articulation
control (AACS) and propulsion.
Propulsion Subsystem
The propulsion subsystem consisted of a large solid-
propellant rocket motor for final Jupiter trajectory velocity
and a hydrazine blowdown system that fuels 16 thrusters on the
mission module and eight reaction engines on the propulsion
module. (The propulsion module was jettisoned after injection.)
The single hydrazine (N2H4) supply is contained within
a 28-inch-diameter spherical titanium tank, separated from the
helium pressurization gas by a Teflon-filied rubber bladder. The
tank, located in the central cavity of the mission module's 10-sided
basic structure, contained 104 kilograms (230 pounds) of hydrazine

-19-
a t l a u n c h a n d was p r e s s u r i z e d a t 420 p s i . As t h e p r o p e l l a n t is

consumed, t h e h e l i u m p r e s s u r e w i l l decrease t o a minimum of a b o u t

130 psi.
A l l 24 h y d r a z i n e t h r u s t e r s u s e a c a t a l y s t t h a t spon-

t a n e o u s l y i n i t i a t e s a n d s u s t a i n s r a p i d d e c o m p o s i t i o n of t h e
hydrazine.
The 16 t h r u s t e r s on t h e m i s s i o n module e a c h d e l i v e r 0.2-
pound-thrust. Four a r e u s e d t o e x e c u t e t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n man-
e u v e r s ; t h e o t h e r s i n two r e d u n d a n t s i x - t h r u s t e r b r a n c h e s , t o
s t a b i l i z e t h e s p a c e c r a f t on i t s t h r e e axes. Only o n e b r a n c h o f
a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l t h r u s t e r s i s needed a t a n y t i m e .
Mounted o n o u t r i g g e r s f r o m t h e p r o p u l s i o n module are
f o u r 100-pound-thrust e n g i n e s t h a t , d u r i n g solid-motor b u r n , pro-
v i d e d t h r u s t - v e c t o r c o n t r o l o n t h e p i t c h and yaw a x e s . F o u r f i v e -
p o u n d - t h r u s t e n g i n e s p r o v i d e d roll c o n t r o l .

The s o l i d r o c k e t , which weighed 1 , 1 2 3 k i l o g r a m s ( 2 , 4 7 5

p o u n d s ) i n c l u d i n g 1 , 0 3 9 k i l o g r a m s ( 2 , 2 9 0 p o u n d s ) of p r o p e l l a n t ,
d e v e l o p e d a n a v e r a g e 1 5 , 3 0 0 pounds t h r u s t d u r i n g i t s 43-second
- _- --
burn d u r a t i o n .
A t t i t u d e a n d A r t i c u l a t i o n Control S u b s y s t e m
The AACS i n c l u d e s a n o n b o a r d c o m p u t e r c a l l e d HYPACE
( h y b r i d programmable a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l e l e c t r o n i c s ) , r e d u n d a n t s u n
s e n s o r s , r e d u n d a n t Canopus s t a r t r a c k e r s , t h r e e t w o - a x i s g y r o s a n d
scan a c t u a t o r s for p o s i t i o n i n g t h e s c i e n c e platform.
The HYPACE c o n t a i n s t w o r e d u n d a n t 4,096-word plated-wire
memories -- p a r t of which a r e f i x e d a n d p a r t r e p r o g r a m m a b l e --
r e d u n d a n t processors and i n p u t / o , t p u t driver circuits.

-20-
Injection Propulsion Control
Because of t h e e n e r g y r e q u i r e d t o a c h i e v e a J u p i t e r

b a l l a s t i c t r a j e c t o r y w i t h a n 825-kilogram (1,819-pound) payload,

t h e s p a c e c r a f t l a u n c h e d by t h e T i t a n I11 E / C e n t a u r i n c l u d e d a f i n a l
p r o p u l s i v e s t a g e t h a t a d d e d a v e l o c i t y i n c r e m e n t o f about t w o k i l o -
meters per s e c o n d ( 4 , 4 7 5 m i l e s per h o u r ) .
The s o l i d - r o c k e t motor i n t h e p r o p u l s i o n module was
i g n i t e d 1 5 s e c o n d s a f t e r t h e s p a c e c r a f t s e p a r a t e d from t h e C e n t a u r
and b u r n e d f o r a b o u t 4 3 s e c o n d s . F i r i n g c i r c u i t s t o t h e motor
were armed d u r i n g l a u n c h - v e h i c l e countdown.
The f o u r 1 0 0 - p o u n d - t h r u s t e n g i n e s p r o v i d e d p i t c h and yaw

a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l and t h e f o u r f i v e - p o u n d - t h r u s t engines provided

r o l l c o n t r o l u n t i l b u r n o u t of t h e s o l i d r o c k e t motor. The h y d r a z i n e
e n g i n e s r e s p o n d e d t o i n s t r u c t i o n s from A A C S ' s c o m p u t e r . Only t w o
p i t c h / y a w and two r o l l e n g i n e s a t most were t h r u s t i n g a t a n y g i v e n
time .
Before s o l i d r o c k e t i g n i t i o n a n d a f t e r bur'nout, until the
p r o p u l s i o n m o d u l e s e p a r a t e d from t h e m i s s i o n module, o n l y t h e
five-pound-thrust r o l l e n g i n e s were r e q u i r e d f o r a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l
They were o r i e n t e d o n t h e p r o p u l s i o n module so t h a t , b y proper
e n g i n e s e l e c t i o n b y t h e AACS, a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l was m a i n t a i n e d o n
a l l t h r e e axes.
A p p r o x i m a t e l y 11 m i n u t e s a f t e r s o l i d - r o c k e t b u r n o u t , t h e
p r o p u l s i o n module was j e t t i s o n e d . Several seconds earlier, t h e
p r o p s l l a n t l i n e c a r r y i n g h y d r a z i n e from t h e m i s s i o n module t o t h e
p r o p u l s i o n module was s e a l e d and s e p a r a t e d .

-21-
Celestial Reference Control
The s u n s e n s o r s , which look t h r o u g h a s l o t i n t h e h i g h -
g a i n antenna d i s h , are e l e c t r o - o p t i c a l d e v i c e s t h a t send a t t i t u d e
p o s i t i o n error s i g n a l s t o HYPACE, w h i c h , i n t u r n , s i g n a l s t h e ap-
propriate a t t i t u d e c o n t r o l t h r u s t e r s t o f i r e and t u r n t h e s p a c e c r a f t
i n t h e proper d i r e c t i o n . Sun l o c k s t a b i l i z e s t h e spacecraft on

t w o axes ( p i t c h a n d yaw).
The s t a r Canopus, o n e o f t h e b r i g h t e s t i n t h e g a l a x y ,

is u s u a l l y t h e second celestial r e f e r e n c e f o r three-axis stabili-

zation. Two Canopus t r a c k e r s are mounted so t h a t t h e i r l i n e s o f

s i g h t are parallel. Only one is i n u s e a t a n y o n e t i m e . The s t a r
- ..

t r a c k e r , t h r o u g h HYPACE l o g i c , c a u s e s t h e t h r u s t e r s t o r o l l t h e
s p a c e c r a f t about t h e already-fixed E a r t h or Sun-pointed roll axis
u n t i l t h e t r a c k e r i s l o c k e d o n Canopus. B r i g h t n e s s of t h e t r a c k e r ' s
t a r g e t s t a r i s telemetered to t h e g r o u n d t o v e r i f y t h e correct
s t a r h a s been acquired.
T o e n h a n c e d o w n l i n k c o m m u n i c a t i o n c a p a b i l i t y , t h e Sun

s e n s o r i s e l e c t r i c a l l y b i a s e d ( o f f s e t ) by commands from t h e c o m p u t e r
command s u b s y s t e m t o p o i n t t h e r o l l a x i s a t or a s n e a r t h e E a r t h
a s possible. The s u n s e n s o r c a n be b i a s e d p l u s a n d m i n u s 2 0 ° i n
b o t h p i t c h and yaw a x e s .
T h r e e - a x i s s t a b i l i z a t i o n w i t h c e l e s t i a l r e f e r e n c e is t h e
n o r m a l a t t i t u d e - c o n t r o l mode f o r cruise p h a s e s b e t w e e n p l a n e t s .
I n e r t i a l Reference Control

The s p a c e c r a f t c a n be s t a b i l i z e d o n o n e a x i s ( r o l l ) or
a l l t h r e e a x e s w i t h t h e AACS's i n e r t i a l r e f e r e n c e u n i t c o n s i s t i n g
of t h r e e gyros.
Y

Appropriate inertial reference modes are used whenever

the spacecraft is not on sun/star celestial lock. Such situations
include maintaining inertial reference from Centaur separation
until initial celestial acquisition is achieved; purposely turning
the spacecraft off sun/star lock to do directed trajectory correc-
tions or science instrument observations or calibrations: providing a
reference when the sun is occulted; and providing a reference when
concern exists that the Canopus or Sun sensor will detect stray
intensity from unwanted sources -- planets, rings, satellites.
Each gyro has associated electronics to provide position
information about two orthogonal axes (Gyro A: pitch and yaw,
Gyro B: roll and pitch, Gyro C: yaw and roll). Normally, two
gyros are on for any inertial mode. The gyros have two selectable
rates, one -- high rate -- for propulsion-module injection phase:
the other for mission-module cruise and trajectory-correction and
science maneuvers.
Trajectory Correction Maneuvers
--
The Voyager trajectories are planned around eight -trajec-
tory correction maneuvers (TCM) with each spacecraft between launch
and Saturn encounter. Mission requirements call for extremely ac-
curate maneuvers to reach the desired zones at Jupiter, Saturn
and the target satellites. Total velocity increment capability
for each spacecraft is about 190 meters per second ( 4 2 5 miles per
hour ) .
TCM sequencing is under control of the computer command
subsystem (CCS), which sends the required turn angles to the AACS
for positioning the spacecraft at the correct orientation in space

-23-
a n d , a t t h e proper t i m e , s e n d s commands t o t h e AACS t o s t a r t a n d
s t o p t h e TCM b u r n . A t t i t u d e control is maintained by pulse-off
s e q u e n c i n g of t h e TCM e n g i n e s and p u l s e - o n s e q u e n c i n g of t w o a t t i -
tude-control roll thrusters. P o s i t i o n a n d r a t e s i g n a l s are o b t a i n e d
from t h e g y r o s . A f t e r t h e b u r n , r e a c q u i s i t i o n of t h e c r u i s e celes-
t i a l r e f e r e n c e s is accomplished by a second s e t o f spacecraft t u r n s .
A l l TCMs a r e e n a b l e d by g r o u n d command.

Science Platform (Articulation Control)

V o y a g e r ' s t w o t e l e v i s i o n cameras, u l t r a v i o l e t spectrometer,
p h o t o p o l a r i m e t e r and i n f r a r e d s p e c t r o m e t e r and r a d i o m e t e r are
mounted o n t h e s c a n p l a t f o r m t h a t c a n be r o t a t e d a b o u t t w o a x e s f o r
p r e c i s e p o i n t i n g a t J u p i t e r , S a t u r n and t h e i r moons d u r i n g t h e p l a n -
e t a r y p h a s e s of t h e f l i g h t . The p l a t f o r m i s l o c a t e d a t t h e e n d of

t h e s c i e n c e boom. T o t a l gimballed w e i g h t i s 1 0 0 k i l o g r a m s ( 2 2 0
pounds).
C o n t r o l l e d b y t h e a t t i t u d e and a r t i c u l a t i o n c o n t r o i sub-
s y s t e m ( A A C S ) , t h e p l a t f o r m allows m u l t i p l e p o i n t i n g d i r e c t i o n s of
t h e instruments. Driver c i r c u i t s for t h e scan a c t u a t o r s -- o n e for
each a x i s -- a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e AACS c o m p u t e r . The p l a t f o r m ' s t w o
a x e s of r o t a t i o n are d e s c r i b e d as t h e azimuth a n g l e motion about
an a x i s displaced 7 O from t h e s p a c e c r a f t r o l l a x i s ( p e r p e n d i c u l a r
t o t h e boom c e n t e r l i n e ) a n d e l e v a t i o n a n g l e m o t i o n a b o u t a n a x i s
p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e a z i m u t h a x i s and r o t a t i n g w i t h t h e a z i m u t h
axis. A n g u l a r r a n g e i s 360° i n a z i m u t h a n d 210° i n e l e v a t i o n .
The p l a t f o r m i s slewed o n e a x i s a t a t i m e w i t h s e l e c t a b l e
s l e w r a t e s i n r e s p o n s e t o computer command s u b s y s t e m commands t o
t h e AACS. Slew r a t e s are: l.Oo/s; 0.33O/s; .083O/s; a n d a special

-24-
UVS l o w r a t e : .0052O/s. Camera l i n e o f s i g h t i s c o n t r o l l e d t o
w i t h i n 2 . 5 m i l l i r a d i a n s per a x i s .
Temperature C o n t r o l
The t w o Voyager s p a c e c r a f t a r e d e s i g n e d t o operate f a r t h e r
f r o m E a r t h t h a n a n y p r e v i o u s man-made object. S u r v i v a l depends
g r e a t l y upon k e e p i n g temperatures w i t h i n o p e r a t i n g l i m i t s w h i l e
t h e spacecraft t r a v e r s e s a n e n v i r o n m e n t a l r a n g e o f o n e s o l a r c o n s t a n t
a t t h e E a r t h d i s t a n c e t o f o u r percent o f t h a t solar i n t e n s i t y a t
J u p i t e r a n d one per c e n t a t S a t u r n .
Unprotected s u r f a c e s a t t h e S a t u r n range, n e a r l y one
b i l l i o n miles from t h e Sun, can r e a c h 320°F below z e r o -- the
t e m p e r a t u r e o f 1i q u i d n i t r o g e n .
Both t o p and b o t t o m of t h e m i s s i o n m o d u l e ' s b a s i c d e c a -
gon s t r u c t u r e a r e e n c l o s e d w i t h m u l t i - l a y e r thermal blankets to

p r e v e n t t h e r a p i d l o s s of h e a t t o s p a c e . The b l a n k e t s a r e s a n d -
w i c h e s o f a l u m i n i z e d M y l a r , s h e e t s o f T e d l a r f o r micrometeroid
p r o t e c t i o n and o u t e r b l a c k Kapton c o v e r s t h a t a r e e l e c t r i c a l l y
c o n d u c t i v e t o p r e v e n t t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n of e l e c t r o s t a t i c c h a r g e s .
Also e x t e n s i v e l y b l a n k e t e d are t h e i n s t r u m e n t s on t h e

s c a n platform. Smaller b l a n k e t s and t h e r m a l wrap c o v e r e i g h t

e l e c t r o n i c s b a y s , boom and body-mounted instruments, cabling,
p r o p e l l a n t l i n e s and s t r u c t u r a l s t r u t s . Only a f e w e x t e r i o r ele-

m e n t s of t h e s p a c e c r a f t a r e n o t c l a d i n t h e b l a c k f i l m -- t h e high-
g a i n a n t e n n a r e f l e c t o r , plasma s e n s o r s , s u n s e n s o r s and a n t e n n a
feed cones.
T e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l of f o u r of t h e 1 0 e l e c t r o n i c s com-
p a r t m e n t s i s p r o v i d e d by t h e r m o s t a t i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d l o u v e r as-

-2 5-
s e m b l i e s t h a t p r o v i d e a n i n t e r n a l o p e r a t i n g r a n g e n e a r room temp-
erature. The l o u v e r s are r o t a t e d o p e n by b i m e t a l l i c s p r i n g s when
l a r g e amounts of h e a t a r e d i s s i p a t e d . These bays c o n t a i n t h e

p o w e r - c o n d i t i o n i n g e q u i p m e n t a n d t h e r a d i o power a m p l i f i e r s . Mini-

l o u v e r s a r e l o c a t e d o n t h e scan p l a t f o r m , cosmic r a y i n s t r u m e n t
and t h e s u n s e n s o r s .
Radioisotope h e a t i n g u n i t s (RHU), small non-power-using
h e a t e l e m e n t s t h a t g e n e r a t e o n e w a t t of t h e r m a l e n e r g y , a r e located

o n t h e m a g n e t o m e t e r s e n s o r s and t h e s u n s e n s o r s . N o RHUS a r e u s e d
n e a r instruments t h a t detect charged particles. Electric heaters
are located throughout t h e s p a c e c r a f t to provide a d d i t i o n a l h e a t
d u r i n g p o r t i o n s of t h e m i s s i o n . Many of t h e h e a t e r s are t u r n e d
off when t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e v a l v e s , i n s t r u m e n t s o r s u b a s s e m b l i e s
a r e o n and d i s s i p a t i n g power.

-26-
VOYAGER EXPERIMENTS

COSMIC-RAY EXPERIMENT
The cosmic-ray experiment has four principal scientific
objectives:
1. To measure the energy spectrum of electrons and
cosmic-ray nuclei.
2. To determine the elemental and isotopic corngosition
of cosmic-ray nuclei.
3. To make elemental and isotopic studies of Jupiter's
radiation belts and to explore Saturn's
- -
environment.
4. To determine intensity and directional characteristics
of energetic particles as a function of radial distance
from the Sun, and determine location of the modulation
boundary.
The cosmic-ray experiment uses multiple solid-state detector
telescopes to provide large solid-angle viewing ; the low-energy-
telescope system covers the range from 0 . 5 to 9 million electron
volts (MeV) per nucleon; the high-energy telescope system covers the
range from 4 to 500 million electron volts. The electron telescope
system covers the range from 7 million to 100 million electron volts.
The cosmic-ray experiment weighs 7.52 kilograms (16.57
pounds) and uses 5.2 watts of power.
Dr. Rochus E. Vogt of the California Institute of Technology
is principal investigator.

-27-
 LOW-ENERGY CHARGED PARTICLE EXPERIMENT

S c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v e s of t h e Low-Energy C h a r g e d - P a r t i c l e
E x p e r i m e n t i n c l u d e s t u d i e s of t h e c h a r g e d - p a r t i c l e c o m p o s i t i o n ,
e n e r g y - d i s t r i b u t i o n and a n g u l a r d i s t r i b u t i o n w i t h respect to:
1. S a t u r n ' s m a g n e t o s p h e r e ( e x p l o r a t o r y ) and J u p i t e r ' s
magnetosphere ( d e t a i l e d s t u d i e s ) .
2. I n t e r a c t i o n s of c h a r g e d p a r t i c l e s w i t h t h e s a t e l l i t e s
o f J u p i t e r a n d S a t u r n and p o s s i b l y w i t h t h e r i n g s of
Saturn.
3. Measurements o f q u a s i - s t e a d y i n t e r p l a n e t a r y f l u x
and h i g h - e n e r g y components of t h e s o l a r wind.
4. D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e o r i g i n and i n t e r s t e l l a r
p r o p a g a t i o n of g a l a c t i c cosmic r a y s ( t h o s e t h a t
come f r o m o u t s i d e t h e s o l a r s y s t e m ) .
5. Measurements of t h e p r o p a g a t i o n of s o l a r p a r t i c l e s
i n t h e outer s o l a r system.
The e x p e r i m e n t u s e s two s o l i d - s t a t e detector s y s t e m s o n
a r o t a t i n g p l a t f o r m mounted o n t h e s c a n p l a t f o r m boom. One s y s t e m
i s a low-energy m a g n e t o s p h e r i c p a r t i c l e a n a l y z e r w i t h large dynamic
r a n g e t o m e a s u r e e l e c t r o n s w i t h e n e r g y r a n g i n g from 1 5 , 0 0 0 e l e c t r o n
v o l t s ( 1 5 KeV) t o g r e a t e r t h a n 1 m i l l i o n e l e c t r o n v o l t s (1 MeV):
and i o n s i n t h e e n e r g y r a n g e from 1 5 , 0 0 0 e l e c t r o n v o l t s p e r n u c l e o n

to 160 m i l l i o n e l e c t r o n v o l t s per nucleon.

The s e c o n d d e t e c t o r s y s t e m i s a low-energy p a r t i c l e
t e ? . e s c o p e t h a t c o v e r s t h e r a n g e from 0.15 m i l l i o n e l e c t r o n v o l t s

p e r n u c l e o n t o g r e a t e r t h a n a b o u t 1 0 m i l l i o n e l e c t r o n v o l t s per
nucleon.

-28-
 The Low-Energy Charged-Particle Experiment weighs 7-47’
kilograms (16.47 pounds) and draws 3.9 watts during cruise and 4 . 2
watts during planetary encounter,
Dr. S. M. (Tom) Krimigis of the Applied Physics Laboratory,
Johns Hopkins University, is principal investigator.

MAGNETIC FIELDS EXPERIMENT

The magnetic field of a planet is an externally measurable
manifestation of conditions deep in its interior.
The magnetic-fields instruments on Voyager 1 and 2
determine the magnetic field and magnetospheric structure at
Jupiter and Saturn; they study the interaction of the magnetic
field and the satellites that orbit the planets inside that
field and study the interplanetary-interstellar magnetic field.
Four magnetometers are carried aboard Voyager. Two are
low-field, three-axis instruments located on a boom ‘to place them
as far from the spacecraft body as possible. That allows separation
of the spacecraft’s magnetic field from the external field that is
>. ..
to be measured. The other two magnetometers are high-field, three-
axis instruments mounted on the spacecraft body.
The boom-mounted, low-field instruments measure the
magnetic fields in the range from 0.002 gamma to 50,000 gamma.
(Fifty-thousand gamma equals one-half gauss, about the average
magnetic .field strength at. the surface of Earth.)
The high-jfield instruments cover the range from 12 gamma
to 20 gauss. While the highest field strengths measured by the
P i o n e e r s p a c e c r a f t a t J u p i t e r were a b o u t 14 g a u s s , s c i e n t i s t s
e x p e c t t h a t l o c a l i z e d , s t r o n g e r f i e l d s may be associated w i t h t h e
p l a n e t s o r some o f t h e i r s a t e l l i t e s .
T o t a l w e i g h t o f t h e m a g n e t i c - f i e l d s e x p e r i m e n t is 5 . 5

kilograms ( 1 2 pounds). The e x p e r i m e n t u s e s 3.2 w a t t s of power.

D r . Norman Ness o f NASA's Goddard Space F l i g h t C e n t e r

is p r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i g a t o r .

INFRARED INTERFEROMETER
-~ ~~
SPECTROMETER AND RADIOMETER

The I R I S i s d e s i g n e d t o p e r f o r m s p e c t r a l and r a d i o m e t r i c
m e a s u r e m e n t s o f t h e J o v i a n , S a t u r n i a n and U r a n i a n p l a n e t a r y s y s t e m s ,
and t a r g e t s o f o p p o r t u n i t y d u r i n g t h e c r u i s e p h a s e s .
S c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v e s f o r I R I S are:
1. Measurement o f t h e e n e r g y b a l a n c e of J u p i t e r ,
S a t u r n and Uranus.
2. Studies o f t h e atmospheric compositions o f J u p i t e r ,

S a t u r n , T i t a n a n d o t h e r s a t e l l i t e s , and Uranus.
3. T e m p e r a t u r e , s t r u c t u r e a n d d y n a m i c s of t h e a t m o s p h e r e s .
4. Measurements o f c o m p o s i t i o n a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
c l o u d s and aerosols .
5. S t u d i e s of t h e c o m p o s i t i o n a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
r i n g p a r t i c l e s ( a t S a t u r n ) and t h e s u r f a c e s o f
those satellites the instrument w i l l observe.
The i n s t r u m e n t p r o v i d e s broad s p e c t r a l c o v e r a g e , h i g h
s p e c t r a l r e s o l u t i o n and l o w n o i s e - e q u i v a l e n c e - r a d i a n c e through
u s e of d u a l i n t e r f e r o m e t e r s . T h a t and t h e v a r i a b l e r e s o l u t i o n

-30-
of the instrument, as well a s the precision of the radiometer,
will allow scientists to acquire information about a wide
variety of scientific questions concerning the atmospheres of
the planets and satellites, local and global energy balance, and
the nature of satellite surfaces and the rings of Saturn.
The instrument has two fields of view from its position
on the scan platform. The first is centered on the boresight of the
51-centimeter (20-inch) Cassegrain telescope. The second field of
view -- for solar calibration -- is pointed 20 degrees off the
telescope boresight. It approximately overlaps the ultraviolet
spectrometer's occultation field of view. IRIS pointing is con-
trolled by the scan platform.
Dr. Rudolf A. Hanel of Goddard Space Flight Center is
principal investigator.

PHOTOPOLARIMETER
A great deal of information about the composition of
an object can be learned from the way that object reflects
light. The light that Voyager's photopolarimeter measures is
polarized by the chemicals and aerosols in the atmospheres and
small particles on the surfaces.
The photopolarimeter studies aerosol particles in the
atmospheres of the planets and satellites, and the textures and
compositions of the surfaces of satellites. It also will measure
size, albedo, spatial distribution, shape and orientation of
particles in Szturn's rings; and optical and geometric thickness
of the rings.

-31-
Y

The instrument is made up of a 15-centimeter (6-inch)

Cassegrain telescope, aperture sector, polarization analyzer wheel,
filter wheel and a photomultiplier-tube detector. The filter
wheel carries eight filters ranging from 2,350-Angstrom to 7,500-
Angstrom wavelength; five linear polarizers (0, 60, 120, 135 and
4 5 degrees) plus an open position (no polarizer) and a dark slide.
The instrument's field of view can be set at 3.5 degrees, 1 degree,
1/4 degree and 1/10 degree.
During the Jupiter flyby, Voyager 2's photopolarimeter
suffered some radiation damage that affected some of its central
logic. A s a consequence some of its color filters and polarizers
cannot be used. The Saturn encounter w i l l concentrate on the use
of deep ultraviolet (2,800 Angstroms) and deep red (7,500 Angstroms)
and perpendicular polarizations (45 and 135 degrees). Those choices
will return much of the scientific data the photopolarimeter
team had counted on.
The photopolarimeter weighs 4.41 kilograms (9.7 pounds) and
uses 2.4 watts average power.
- -I . --
Dr. Arthur L. Lane of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
is principal investigator.

PLANETARY RADIO ASTRONOMY

The Planetary Radio Astronomy experiment consists of a
stepped frequency radio receiver that covers the range from 20
kilohercz t o 40.5 megahertz, and two monopole antennas 10 meters
(33 feet) long, to detect and study a variety of radio signals
emitted by Jupiter and Saturn.

-3 2-
 S c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v e s of t h e experiment include d e t e c t i o n
a n d s t u d y of r a d i o emissions from J u p i t e r a n d S a t u r n and t h e i r
sources a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e s a t e l l i t e s , t h e p l a n e t s ' m a g n e t i c
f i e l d s , a t m o s p h e r i c l i g h t n i n g and plasma r e s o n a n c e . The i n s t r u m e n t
a l s o measures p l a n e t a r y and s o l a r r a d i o b u r s t s from new d i r e c t i o n s
i n space a n d r e l a t e s them t o m e a s u r e m e n t s made from E a r t h .
The r e c e i v e r i s d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e c o v e r a g e i n t w o

frequency bands -- o n e c o v e r i n g t h e r a n g e from 2 0 . 4 k i l o h e r t z t o

1,345 k i l o h e r t z , t h e s e c o n d from 1,228.8 k i l o h e r t z t o 40.5 m e g a h e r t z .
T h e r e c e i v e r b a n d w i d t h is 1 k i l o h e r t z i n t h e l o w - f r e q u e n c y r a n g e a n d

200 k i l o h e r t z i n t h e h i g h - f r e q u e n c y band. There are three s i g n a l

i n p u t a t t e n u a t o r s t o p r o v i d e s w i t c h a b l e t o t a l a t t e n u a t i o n from 0 t o
90 decibels.

The i n s t r u m e n t w e i g h s 7.66 k i l o g r a m s (16.8 p o u n d s ) and

d r a w s 6 . 8 w a t t s o f power.
P r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i g a t o r i s D r . James W. Warwick o f
Radiophysics, Inc. , Boulder, Colo.

PLASMA EXPERIMENT

Plasma, c l o u d s o f i o n i z e d gases, moves t h r o u g h t h e

i n t e r p l a n e t a r y r e g i o n and comes from t h e Sun and from s t a r s .
The p l a s m a e x p e r i m e n t u s e s two F a r a d a y c u p plasma d e t e c t o r s ,
one pointed along t h e Earth-spacecraft l i n e , t h e o t h e r a t r i g h t
angles to t h a t l i n e .
S c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e p l a s m a e x p e r i m e n t are:

-3 3-
 1. D e t e r m i n e p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e s o l a r wind, i n c l u d i n g
changes i n t h e p r o p e r t i e s w i t h i n c r e a s i n g d i s t a n c e
from t h e Sun.
2. Study o f t h e magnetospheres t h a t are i n t r i n s i c t o
t h e p l a n e t s t h e m s e l v e s and t h a t co-rotate w i t h t h e

p l a n e t s i n d e p e n d e n t of s o l a r wind a c t i v i t y .
3. S t u d y of t h e s a t e l l i t e s of J u p i t e r and S a t u r n a n d t h e
p l a s m a e n v i r o n m e n t o f Io.
4. D e t e c t i o n a n d measurement o f i n t e r s t e l l a r i o n s .
The E a r t h - p o i n t i n g detector u s e s a n o v e l geometrical

a r r a n g e m e n t t h a t makes i t e q u i v a l e n t t o t h r e e F a r a d a y c u p s a n d
d e t e r m i n e s m i c r o s c o p i c p r o p e r t i e s o f t h e plasma i o n s . With t h i s
d e t e c t o r , a c c u r a t e v a l u e s of t h e v e l o c i t y , d e n s i t y and p r e s s u r e
can be d e t e r m i n e d f o r p l a s m a from t h e E a r t h (1 A . U . ) t o beyond
Saturn (10 A.U.). Two s e q u e n t i a l e n e r g y s c a n s a r e employed t o

allow t h e i n s t r u m e n t t o c o v e r a broad r a n g e o f e n e r g i e s -- from

1 0 e l e c t r o n v o l t s ( e V ) t o 6,000 e l e c t r o n v o l t s ( 6 KeV). Significant
m e a s u r e m e n t s c a n be made between s u b s o n i c and s u p e r s o n i c speeds i n
cold s o l a r wind o r h o t p l a n e t a r y m a g n e t o s h e a t h .
The v a r i a b l e e n e r g y r e s o l u t i o n allows s c i e n t i s t s t o
d e t e c t and s o r t o u t i o n s t h a t f l o w w i t h t h e s o l a r wind a t t h e same
t i m e t h e y a r e m e a s u r i n g t h e s o l a r w i n d ' s properties.
The i n s t r u m e n t h a s a l a r g e ( 1 8 0 - d e g r e e ) f i e l d of v i e w

a t p l a n e t a r y e n c o u n t e r s a n d a 90-degree f i e l d of v i e w i n t h e s o l a r
wind; no e l e c t r i c a l o r mechanical s c a n n i n g i s n e c e s s a r y .
The o t h e r F a r a d a y cup, a s i d e - l o o k i n g or l a t e r a l d e t e c t o r ,
measures e l e c t r o n s i n t h e r a n g e of 1fi e l e c t r o n v o l t s t o 6 K e V a n d

-3 4-
s h o u l d improve s p a t i a l coverage f o r any d r i f t i n g o r c o - r o t a t i n g
positive ions during planetary encounters.
T h e i n s t r u m e n t was d e s i g n e d p r i m a r i l y f o r e x p l o r i n g

p l a n e t s ' magnetospheres. I t i s capable o f d e t e c t i n g h o t s u b s o n i c

p l a s m a s u c h a s h a s b e e n o b s e r v e d i n t h e E a r t h ' s m a g n e t o s p h e r e and
is expected from i o n s o r i g i n a t i n g i n t h e Mclhnough-Brice r i n g of
Io. The i n s t r u m e n t ' s l a r g e a n g u l a r a c c e p t a n c e allows d e t e c t i o n
o f p l a s m a f l o w s w e l l away from t h e d i r e c t i o n of t h e Sun, s u c h a s
p l a s m a flows t h a t co-rotate w i t h t h e p l a n e t .
The p l a s m a e x p e r i m e n t w e i g h s 9.89 k i l o g r a m s (21.8 p o u n d s )
a n d draws 8 . 3 w a t t s o f power.
D r . Herbert B r i d g e of t h e M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e o f

Technology is p r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i g a t o r .

PLASMA WAVE

S c i e n t i f i c o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e p l a s m a wave e x p e r i m e n t a r e
m e a s u r e m e n t s of t h e r m a l p l a s m a d e n s i t y p r o f i l e s a t J u p i t e r- and
._.,
..- -
S a t u r n ; s t u d i e s of w a v e - p a r t i c l e i n t e r a c t i o n , and s t u d y of t h e
i n t e r a c t i o n s o f t h e J o v i a n and S a t u r n i a n s a t e l l i t e s w i t h t h e i r
p l a n e t s ' magnetospheres.

The plasma-wave i n s t r u m e n t measures e l e c t r i c - f i e l d

c o m p o n e n t s of l o c a l plasma waves o v e r t h e f r e q u e n c y r a n g e f r o m
1 0 h e r t z t o 56 k i l o h e r t z .

The e x p e r i m e n t s h a r e s t h e t w o e x t e n d a b l e 10-meter
( 3 3 - f o o t ) e l e c t r i c a n t e n n a s p r o v ' d e d by t h e p l a n e t a r y r a d i o
a s t r o n o m y e x p e r i m e n t team. The t w o g r o u p s u s e t h e a n t e n n a s i n

-35-
d i f f e r e n t ways. T h e p l a s m a wave e x p e r i m e n t u s e s t h e a n t e n n a s t o
f o r m a Vee-type b a l a n c e d e l e c t r i c d i p o l e ( w h i l e t h e r a d i o a s t r o n o m y
e x p e r i m e n t uses t h e m a s a p a i r o f o r t h o g o n a l m o n o p o l e s ) .
I n t h e normal f o r m a t , t h e plasma-wave s i g n a l s are pro-.
cessed w i t h a s i m p l e 1 6 - c h a n n e l spectrum a n a l y z e r . A t planetary

e n c o u n t e r s t h e system p r o v i d e s a spectral s c a n e v e r y f o u r seconds.

The plasma-wave system h a s a broadband a m p l i f i e r t h a t
u s e s t h e Voyager v i d e o t e l e m e t r y l i n k t o g i v e e l e c t r i c f i e l d
w a v e f o r m s w i t h a f r e q u e n c y r a n g e from 50 h e r t z t o 10 k i l o h e r t z
a t selected times d u r i n g p l a n e t e n c o u n t e r s .
The e x p e r i m e n t i s d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e k e y i n f o r m a t i o n
o n t h e w a v e - p a r t i c l e i n t e r a c t i o n phenomena t h a t c o n t r o l i m p o r t a n t
a s p e c t s o f t h e d y n a m i c s of t h e m a g n e t o s p h e r e s o f J u p i t e r a n d S a t u r n .
Wave-particle i n t e r a c t i o n s p l a y extremely important roles a t Earth,
and s c i e n t i s t s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t a t l e a s t t h e i n n e r magnetosphere

of J u p i t e r i s c o n c e p t u a l l y s i m i l a r t o t h a t of E a r t h d e s p i t e t h e
v a s t d i f f e r e n c e s i n s i z e and i n t h e e n e r g y o f t r a p p e d p a r t i c l e s .
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e s a t e l l i t e s of J u p i t e r and S a t u r n appear
t o p r o v i d e i m p o r t a n t l o c a l i z e d s o u r c e s o f plasma and f i e l d - a l i g n e d
c u r r e n t s , and t h e y s h o u l d s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t t h e t r a p p e d - p a r t i c l e
populations .
The i n s t r u m e n t w e i g h s 1.37 k i l o g r a m s (3.02 p o u n d s ) a n d

draws 1.4 w a t t s of power i n t h e s t e p f r e q u e n c y mode and 1 8 w a t t s

i n t h e s t e p f r e q u e n c y p l u s waveform a n a l y z e r mode.
Dr. F r e d e r i c k L. S c a r f of TRW D e f 2 n s e and Space S y s t e m s

G r o u p is p r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i s a t o r .

-36-
I.

RADIO S C I E N C E

The s p a c e c r a f t ' s communications system i s u s e d t o

conduct s e v e r a l experiments by observing how the r a d i o s i g n a l s

a r e changed on t h e i r way t o E a r t h .
By measuring t h e way s i g n a l s d i e o u t and r e t u r n when t h e

s p a c e c r a f t disappears behind a p l a n e t or s a t e l l i t e and t h e n

reappears, t h e r a d i o science team can determine t h e p r o p e r t i e s
of p l a n e t a r y and s a t e l l i t e atmospheres and ionospheres.
The r a d i o s i g n a l s a l s o allow s c i e n t i s t s t o make p r e c i s e
measurements of t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s t r a j e c t o r y a s i t passes near a
planet o r s a t e l l i t e . Post-flight analyses allow determination of
t h e mass of a body and i t s density and shape.

The r i n g s of Saturn w i l l a l s o be explored by the r a d i o

science team by measuring the s c a t t e r i n g of t h e r a d i o s i g n a l s a s
they t r a v e l through t h e r i n g s . T h i s w i l l provide measurement of

r i n g mass, p a r t i c l e s i z e d i s t r i b u t i o n and r i n g s t r u c t u r e .

The experiment uses the microwave r e c e i v e r s and t r a n s -

m i t t e r s on the s p a c e c r a f t a s w e l l a s s p e c i a l equipment a t t h e
Deep Space Network tracking s t a t i o n s . The s p a c e c r a f t t r a n s m i t t e r s

a r e capable of sending 1 0 o r 25 w a t t s a t S-band; and 1 2 o r 20 w a t t s

a t X-band. The s p a c e c r a f t antenna i s a 3.66 meter (12-foot) para-

bola and i s aimed by s p e c i a l maneuvers performed during p l a n e t

occultations.
D r . G. L. Tyler of the Center f o r Radar Astronomy,

Stanford University, is team leader.

-37-
 TELEVISION

The Voyager i m a g i n g s y s t e m i s based o n t h o s e f l o w n

a b o a r d M a r i n e r s p a c e c r a f t , w i t h a d v a n c e m e n t s and c h a n g e s d i c t a t e d
by t h e s p e c i f i c requirements o f f l y b y s of J u p i t e r , S a t u r n a n d
t h e i r satellites.

Science o b j e c t i v e s for t h e t e l e v i s i o n e x p e r i m e n t s i n c l u d e
r e c o n a i s s a n c e of t h e J u p i t e r and S a t u r n s y s t e m s , i n c l u d i n g h i g h -
r e s o l u t i o n p h o t o g r a p h y o f a t m o s p h e r i c m o t i o n s , colors a n d u n u s u a l
f e a t u r e s ( s u c h a s t h e Great Red S p o t a n d s i m i l a r smaller s p o t s ) ;
v e r t i c a l structure of t h e atmospheres o f t h e p l a n e t s ; comparative
and d e t a i l e d g e o l o g y o f s a t e l l i t e s ; s a t e l l i t e s i z e and r o t a t i o n ,

and d e t a i l e d s t u d i e s of t h e r i n g s o f S a t u r n .

Two t e l e v i s i o n - t y p e c a m e r a s a r e mounted o n t h e space-

c r a f t ’ s s c a n p l a t f o r m : a 200-mm f o c a l - l e n g t h , w i d e - a n g l e camera
w i t h 4,000-Angstrom t o 6,200-Angstrom s e n s i t i v i t y ; a n d a 1,500-mm
focal-length, n a r r o w - a n g l e camera w i t h a 3,200-Angstrom t o 6,200-
Angstrom r a n g e .
The d i s c s o f J u p i t e r and S a t u r n exceed t h e f i e l d o f
view o f t h e n a r r o w - a n g l e camera a b o u t t h r e e or f o u r weeks b e f o r e
closest approach. A t t h a t time, r e s o l u t i o n i s a b o u t 4 0 0 k i l o m e t e r s - -__
(250 miles). For s e v e r a l d a y s b e f o r e a n d a f t e r c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h ,

s c i e n t i s t s w i l l have s e v e r a l s i m u l t a n e o u s imaging o p p o r t u n i t i e s :
1. P h o t o g r a p h y a t h i g h r e s o l u t i o n of p l a n e t s whose
a n g u l a r diameters a r e many times l a r g e r t h a n t h e
f i e l d of view.
2. Close e n c o u n t e r s w i t h t h e major s a t e l l i t e s .
3. More d i s t a n t p h o t o g r a p h y of s e v e r a l o t h e r s a t e l l i t e s .

-38-
 4. High-resolution photography o f S a t u r n ' s r i n g s .
To e x p l o i t s u c h a v a r i e t y o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s , i t is

n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e s p a c e c r a f t t o r e t u r n l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f imaging
data. The c a m e r a - s p a c e c r a f t s y s t e m h a s b e e n d e s i g n e d t o r e t u r n
i m a g i n g d a t a o v e r a w i d e r a n g e of t e l e m e t r y r a t e s i n r e a l t i m e .
Data c a n a l s o b e r e c o r d e d on b o a r d t h e s p a c e c r a f t f o r l a t e r p l a y -
back t o E a r t h -- d u r i n g o c c u l t a t i o n by S a t u r n , f o r i n s t a n c e .
Each camera i s e q u i p p e d w i t h a f i l t e r w h e e l whose
i n d i v i d u a l f i l t e r s have a v a r i e t y o f uses: .
The w i d e - a n g l e camera's f i l t e r w h e e l c o n t a i n s o n e c l e a r
f i l t e r , one e a c h i n b l u e , g r e e n and o r a n g e w a v e l e n g t h s , a s e v e n -
Angstrom sodium-D f i l t e r f o r s p e c i a l o b s e r v a t i o n s n e a r Io and
o t h e r s a t e l l i t e s , and t w o 100-Angstrom f i l t e r s a t t h e w a v e l e n g t h
of methane a b s o r p t i o n , f o r s t u d y of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f m e t h a n e

i n t h e a t m o s p h e r e s of J u p i t e r , S a t u r n , T i t a n and Uranus.
T h e narrow a n g l e camera's f i l t e r w h e e l c a r r i e s t w o

c l e a r f i l t e r s , t w o g r e e n , and o n e e a c h o f v i o l e t , b l u e , o r a n g e ,
and u l t r a v i o l e t .
Voyager i s t h e f i r s t i m a g i n g s y s t e m w i t h n a r r o w -
band c a p a b i l i t y t o d i r e c t l y observe d i s t r i b u t i o n o f atomic a n d
molecular species. The seven-Angstrom sodium-D f i l t e r i s t h e
n a r r o w e s t b a n d w i d t h f i l t e r e v e r f l o w n w i t h t h i s k i n d of camera.
Because t h e Voyager s p a c e c r a f t p a s s t h e p l a n e t s a n d
s a t e l l i t e s a t h i g h v e l o c i t i e s a n d m u s t t a k e p i c t u r e s i n dimmer
l i g h t t h a n Mariner m i s s i o n s t o t h e i n n e r p l a n e t s , image-smear
c o n d i t i o n s are more s e v e r e t h a n o n p r e v i o u s f1ighc.s. To overcome

t h e s e p r o b l e m s , t h e camera's p r e - a m p l i f i e r s h a v e b e e n d e s i g n e d
t o lower s y s t e m n o i s e and t o i n c o r p o r a t e a h i g h - g a i n state; both
c h a n g e s a r e meant t o p r o v i d e h i g h - q u a l i t y i m a g e s w i t h minimum
smear .
During t h e s e v e r a l months before closest a p p r o a c h r t h e

n a r r o w - a n g l e camera p h o t o g r a p h s J u p i t e r a n d S a t u r n r e g u l a r l y
and o f t e n to p r o v i d e information o n cloud motions. Those p i c t u r e s
a r e t a k e n o n a s c h e d u l e t h a t p e r m i t s s c i e n t i s t s t o make m o t i o n
p i c t u r e s i n which t h e p l a n e t ' s r o t a t i o n h a s b e e n " f r o z e n " so
t h a t o n l y t h e cloud m o t i o n s a r e a p p a r e n t . R e s o l u t i o n d u r i n g t h e
p e r i o d r a n g e s from about 1 , 6 0 0 k i l o m e t e r s ( 1 , O O O miles) t o a b o u t
5 0 miles).
4 0 0 k i l o m e t e r s (-2 -. Once t h e p l a n e t g r o w s l a r g e r t h a n
t h e narrow-angle camera's f i e l d o f v i e w , t h e w i d e - a n g l e camera
b e g i n s i t s work. The n a r r o w - a n g l e camera t h e n r e p e a t e d l y p h o t o -
g r a p h s p o r t i o n s of t h e p l a n e t s t h a t w a r r a n t s p e c i a l s c i e n t i f i c
interest. T h e cameras c a n b e s h u t t e r e d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y d u r i n g

t h e s e p e r i o d s so s c i e n t i s t s can r e l a t e small-scale m o t i o n s t o

larger patterns.
Because of t h e n a t u r e o f t h e p l a n e t a r y f l y b y s r t h e
cameras a r e n o t a b l e t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n a s i n g l e t a r g e t f o r h o u r s
at a time. As e a c h s a t e l l i t e movesr i t p r e s e n t s a n e v e r - c h a n g i n g

a p p e a r a n c e t o t h e cameras; t h e p l a n e t s ' c l o u d s a r e a l s o i n c o n s t a n t
motion. Therefore, o b s e r v a t i o n a l sequences are s t r u c t u r e d to

p r o v i d e repeated i m a g e s a t d i f f e r i n g i n t e r v a l s f o r e a c h t a r g e t .
A d d i t i o n a l l y , l a r g e a m o u n t s of m u l t i c o l o r i m a g i n g d a t a are b e i n g
o b t a i n e d f o r t h e planets and s a t e l l i k e s .
The camera s y s t e m weighs 38.17 k i l o g r a m s ( 8 4 . 1 5 p0UndS)r
a n d uses 41.9 w a t t s of power.

-4 0-
I.

Dr. Bradford A. Smith of the University of Arizona is

team leader.

ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROMETER
The ultraviolet spectrometer looks at the planets'
atmospheres and at interplanetary space.
Scientific objectives of the experiment are:
1. To determine distributions of the major constituents
of the upper atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and Titan
as a function of altitude.
2. To measure absorption of the Sun's ultraviolet radi-
ation by the upper atmospheres as the Sun is occulted
by Jupiter, Saturn and Titan.
3. To measure ultraviolet airglow emissions of the
atmospheres from the bright disks of the three
bodies, their bright limbs, terminatdrs and dark sides.
4. Determine distribution and ratio of hydrogen and
helium in interplanetary and interstellar space.
The instrument measures ultraviolet radiation in 1,.20.0-. . -- .-

Angstrom bandwidth in the range from 400 to 1,800 Angstroms. It

uses a grating spectrometer with a microchannel plate electron
multiplier and a 128-channel anode array. A fixed-position mirror
reflects sunlight into the instrument during occultation. The
instrument has a 0.86-degree by 0.6-degree field of view during
occultation and a,0.86 by 2 degree field of view for airgl3w
measurements.

-4 1-
... .

The u l t r a v i o l e t s p e c t r o m e t e r w e i g h s 4 . 4 9 k i l o g r a m s
( 9 . 8 9 p o u n d s ) and uses 2 . 5 watts of power.

Dr. A. Lyle Broadfoot o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Southern

C a l i f o r n i a is p r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i g a t o r .

TRACKING AND DATA A C Q U I S I T I O N

T r a c k i n g , commanding and o b t a i n i n g d a t a from t h e space-

c r a f t are p a r t of t h e mission assigned to t h e Jet Propulsion
Laboratory. T h e s e t a s k s c o v e r a l l p h a s e s of t h e f l i g h t , i n c l u d i n g
t e l e m e t r y from l a u n c h v e h i c l e and s p a c e c r a f t , metric d a t a o n b o t h
l a u n c h v e h i c l e a n d Voyager, command s i g n a l s t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t
and d e l i v e r y o f d a t a t o t h e M i s s i o n C o n t r o l and Computing C e n t e r
(MCCC) a t JPL.

The T r a c k i n g a n d Data System ( T D S ) p r o v i d e s e l e m e n t s

o f t h e world-wide N A S A / J P L Deep Space Network ( D S N ) , A i r Force
E a s t e r n T e s t Range ( A F E T R ) , t h e NASA S p a c e f l i g h t T r a c k i n g a n d Data
Network (STDN) and t h e NASA Communications S y s t e m (NASCOM).
During t h e l a u n c h p h a s e o f t h e m i s s i o n , d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n
was accomplished t h r o u g h u s e o f t h e n e a r - E a r t h f a c i l i t i e s -- the
AFETR s t a t i o n s , downrange elements o f t h e S T D N , i n s t r u m e n t e d j e t

a i r c r a f t and a n i n s t r u m e n t e d s h i p . Radar-metric data obtained

i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r l i f t o f f and t h r o u g h t h e n e a r - E a r t h p h a s e was
d e l i v e r e d t o and computed a t t h e AFETR Real-Time Computer s y s t e m
f a c i l i t y i n F l o r i d a so t h a t a c c u r a t e p r e d i c t i o n s c o u l d be t r a n s m i t t e d
t o Deep Space Network s t a t i o n s g i v i n g t h e l o c a t i o n s of t h e s p a c e -
c r a f t i n t h e s k y when t h e y a p p e a r e d o n t h e h o r i z o n .
T r a c k i n g a n d communication w i t h t h e V o y a g e r s s i n c e i n j e c -

-4 2-
tion onto Jupiter trajectories and until the end of the mission
are being carried out by the Deep Space Network (DSN).
The DSN consists of nine deep space communications
stations on three continents, a spacecraft monitoring station in
Florida, the Network Operations Control Center at JPL and ground
communications linking all locations.
DSN stations are located around the Earth -- at Goldstone,
California; Madrid, Spain; and at Canberra, Australia. Each
location is equipped with a 64-meter (210-foot) diameter antenna
station, a 34-meter (112-foot) antenna, and a 26-meter (85-foot)
antenna station.
The three multi-station complexes are spaced at widely
separated longitudes so that spacecraft beyond Earth orbit --
and, for the Voyager mission, the planets Jupiter and Saturn --
are never out of view. The spacecraft monitoring equipment in
the STDN station at Merritt Island, Florida, covered the pre-launch
and launch phases of the mission. A simulated DSN station at
JPL, called CTA-21, provided pre-launch compatibility support.
In addition to the giant antennas, each of the stations
is equipped with transmitting, receiving, data handling and inter-
station communication equipment. The downlink radio frequency
system includes super-cooled low-noise amplifiers. The 64-meter
antenna stations at Goldstone, Spain and Australia have 100-kilowatt
transmitters. Transmitter power at 34- and 26-meter stations is
L O kilowatts.
The downlink is transmitted from the spacecraft at S-band
(2,295 megahertz) and X-band ( 8 , 4 0 0 mhz) frequencies. The uplink

-4 3-
.".

operates a t S-band ( 2 , 1 1 3 mhz) o n l y , c a r r y i n g commands and r a n g i n g

s i g n a l s from g r o u n d s t a t i o n s t o t h e s p a c e c r a f t .
Only t h e 64-meter a n d 34-meter a n t e n n a s t a t i o n s c a n
r e c e i v e t h e X-band s i g n a l and can r e c e i v e a t b o t h f r e q u e n c i e s
(S-band and X-band) s i m u l t a n e o u s l y . D u r i n g S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r opera-
t i o n s , t h e 64-meter a n d 34-meter s t a t i o n s provide continuous
s p a c e c r a f t c o v e r a g e . From about f o u r weeks before t o o n e week
a f t e r c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h t h e a r r a y i n g of c o - l o c a t e d 64-meter and
34-meter a n t e n n a s i s u s e d a t a l l t h r e e l o c a t i o n s t o maximize
data-return capability.
During c r u i s e o p e r a t i o n s a c o m b i n a t i o n of 64-meter,
34-meter a n d 26-meter s t a t i o n c o v e r a g e i s u s e d f o r m i s s i o n op-
e r a t i o n s s u p p o r t . The 26-meter s u b n e t is u s e d when o n l y S-band
d a t a are received.
The n e r v e c e n t e r o f t h e DSN i s t h e Network O p e r a t i o n s
C o n t r o l C e n t e r a t JPL t h a t p r o v i d e s for c o n t r o l and m o n i t o r i n g
of DSN p e r f o r m a n c e . A l l incoming d a t a a r e v a l i d a t e d a t t h a t

p o i n t w h i l e b e i n g s i m u l t a n e o u s l y t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e c o m p u t i- n g-
--
f a c i l i t i e s o f t h e M i s s i o n C o n t r o l a n d Computing C e n t e r f o r r e a l -
t i m e and l a t e r u s e by e n g i n e e r s and s c i e n c e i n v e s t i g a t o r s .
Ground c o m m u n i c a t i o n s f a c i l i t i e s u s e d b y t h e DSN t o l i n k
t h e g l o b a l s t a t i o n s w i t h t h e c o n t r o l c e n t e r are p a r t of a l a r g e r
n e t w o r k , NASCOM, t h a t c o n n e c t s a l l of N A S A ' s s t a t i o n s a r o u n d t h e
world. Data from t h e s p a c e c r a f t a r e t r a n s m i t t e d o v e r h i g h - s p e e d

and wide-band c i r c u i t s . For t h e S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r , t e l e m e t r y a t

r a t e s u p t o 44.8 k i l o b i t s p e r second a r e c a r r i e d i n real-time o n
wideband l i n e s from G o l d s t o n e , C a n b e r r a a n d Madrid.

-44-
 Simultaneously with the routing to the MCCC of the
spacecraft telemetry, range and range-rate information is generated
by the DSN and transmitted to the control center for spacecraft
navigation. To achieve the desired maneuver and encounter accura-
cies, very precise navigation data are required. Navigation infor-
mation includes S/X ranging, two-station near-simultaneous rang-
ing, differential time delay between spacecraft and quasar, and
multi-station tracking cycles.
Commands are sent from the MCCC to one of the DSN sta-
tions where they are loaded into a command processing computer,
automatically verified for accuracy and transmitted- to the proper
spacecraft at 16 bits per second. Commands may be aborted, if
necessary.
For all of NASA's unmanned missions in deep space, the
DSN provides the tracking information to determine the trajectory
of the spacecraft. It receives engineering and science telemetry
and sends commands for spacecraft operations on a multi-missian
basis.
Concurrent with the four-year or longer Voyager mission,
the network is supporting mission activities of the Viking project
with one lander on Mars; maintaining post-Jupiter and Saturn com-
munications with Pioneers 10 and 11; and complementing West Germany's
space communications facilities on the Helios Sun-orbiting mission.
The DSN also is supporting a Venus exploration mission by a Pioneer
spacecraft -- a planetary orbiter that began planetary-science
activities In December, 1978.
A l l of NASA's networks are under the direction of the

-45-
O f f i c e of Space T r a c k i n g a n d Data S y s t e m s . J P L manages t h e DSN.

T h e S T D N f a c i l i t i e s a n d NASCOM a r e managed by NASA's Goddard

S p a c e F l i g h t C e n t e r , G r e e n b e l t , Maryland.
The G o l d s t o n e DSN s t a t i o n s a r e operated and m a i n t a i n e d
by J P L w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e of t h e B e n d i x F i e l d E n g i n e e r i n g Corp.
The C a n b e r r a s t a t i o n s a r e o p e r a t e d by t h e Australian D e p a r t m e n t
o f Supply. The s t a t i o n s n e a r Madrid a r e operated b y t h e S p a n i s h
g o v e r n m e n t !s I n s t i t u t o N a c i o n a l d e T e c n i c a Aerospacial.

MISSION CONTROL AND COMPUTING CENTER

The M i s s i o n C o n t r o l and Computing C e n t e r (MCCC) a t t h e

J e t P r o p u l s i o n L a b o r a t o r y i s t h e f o c u s o f a l l Voyager Project
f l i g h t operations. I t is through t h e c e n t e r ' s computer systems

t h a t d a t a from t h e V o y a g e r s . p a s s , a r e processed and p r e s e n t e d

t o e n g i n e e r s a n d s c i e n t i s t s for a n a l y s i s . Through t h e e x t e n s i v e
a n d v a r i e d d i s p l a y s o f t h e c o m p u t e r s i n t h e MCCC, the flight
a n a l y s t s o b s e r v e a n d c o n t r o l t h e many g r o u n d p r o c e s s i n g f u n c t i o n s
and t h e s p a c e c r a f t .

The MCCC i s h o u s e d i n J P L b u i l d i n g s c o n t a i n i n g i t s

computer s y s t e m s , c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d d i s p l a y e q u i p m e n t , p h o t o
p r o c e s s i n g l a b and m i s s i o n s u p p o r t areas. The v a r i o u s areas are
o u t f i t t e d t o s a t i s f y t h e d i v e r s e n e e d s of t h e Voyager m i s s i o n
o p e r a t i o n s team -- t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e m i s s i o n c o n t r o l l e r s ,

s p a c e c r a f t p e r f o r m a n c e a n a l y s t s and s c i e n c e i n v e s t i g a t o r s .
The MCCC c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l computer s y s t e m s d e s i g n e d t o
r e c e i v e t h e i n c o m i n g Voyagkr d a t a , process i t i n real-time, display

-4 6-
it and organize it for further processing and analysis. After the
data have been received as radio signals by the Deep Space Network
(DSN) stations located around the world, they are transmitted to
Pasadena and into the MCCC computers where the processing is done.
Software developed by the MCCC, operating in those computers, per-
forms the receiving, displaying and organizing functions. Computer
programs generated by other elements of the Voyager Project fur-
ther process the data.
Commands causing the spacecraft to maneuver, gather
science data and perform other complex mission activities are
introduced into the MCCC computers and communicated to a station
of the Deep Space Network for transmission to the appropriate
spacecraft.
The MCCC is composed of three major elements, each with
its own computer system. They are the Mission Control and Com-
puting Facility (MCCF), the Information Processing Center (IPC)
and the Mission and Test Computing Facility (MTCF).

of- -
The Mission Control and Computing Facility consi-st-s.
two IBM 360-75 processors and a number of Modcomp computers. It
supports the Voyager command, monitor and data records activities
and routes data to the MTCF and tracking systems. The Modcomp
computers provide the means by which commands are formatted and
sent by the Deep Space stations to the spacecraft. They also
provide displays of ground data system configuration and status
information. The 360-75s are used to provide the data management
capability to produce plots and printouts for the day-to-day
determination of spacecraft operating condition. The 360-75s

-4 7-
a l s o produce t h e f i n a l records of d a t a f o r d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s
by t h e s c i e n c e community.
The I n f o r m a t i o n P r o c e s s i n g C e n t e r , w i t h t w o UNIVAC
1100-81 computers, s u p p o r t s t h e Voyager P r o j e c t ' s n a v i g a t i o n ,
s p a c e c r a f t a n a l y s i s , and m i s s i o n s e q u e n c e s y s t e m s . Computer
t e r m i n a l s l o c a t e d i n t h e m i s s i o n s u p p o r t areas allow p r o j e c t
a n a l y s t s to e x e c u t e t h e i r programs a n d o b t a i n r e s u l t s d i s p l a y e d o n
TV m o n i t o r s , or o n v a r i o u s p r i n t e r s a n d p l o t t e r s .

The M i s s i o n a n d T e s t Computing F a c i l i t y p r o v i d e s t e l e -
m e t r y d a t a p r o c e s s i n g f o r t h e s c i e n c e and e n g i n e e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n
t r a n s m i t t e d from t h e V o y a g e r s . W i t h i n t h e MTCF a r e t h e t e l e m e t r y
s y s t e m , imaging s y s t e m and p h o t o system. The t e l e m e t r y s y s t e m
u s e s t h r e e s t r i n g s of UNIVAC and Modcomp computers t o r e c e i v e ,

record, p r o c e s s and d i s p l a y t h e d a t a as r e q u e s t e d by a n a l y s t s i n
t h e mission support areas. The i m a g i n g a n d p h o t o systems p r o d u c e
t h e p h o t o g r a p h i c p r o d u c t s from d a t a g e n e r a t e d by V o y a g e r ' s TV
cameras. P i c t u r e s of J u p i t e r , S a t u r n and t h e i r moons are a n a l y z e d
by s c i e n t i s t s h o u s e d i n t h e m i s s i o n s u p p o r t areas. Scientists
a r e p r o v i d e d b o t h e l e c t r o n i c and p h o t o g r a p h i c d i s p l a y s .
MCCC, l i k e t h e DSN, a l s o s u p p o r t s t h e o t h e r f l i g h t m i s -

s i o n s , V i k i n g , P i o n e e r s 10 a n d 11, Helios a n d P i o n e e r / V e n u s .
 VOYAGER SUBCONTRACTORS

T h i s i s a l i s t o f some k e y s u b c o n t r a c t o r s who p r o v i d ' e d

i n s t r u m e n t s ? h a r d w a r e and s e r v i c e s f o r t h e Voyager Project:

A l g o r e x Data Corp. Automated Design S u p p o r t

S y o s s e t , NY f o r F l i g h t Data S u b s y s t e m

B o e i n g Co. Radiation Characterization

S e a t t l e ? WA o f P a r t s a n d Materials

F a i r c h i l d Space and Temperature C o n t r o l Louvers

E l e c t r o n i c s Co.
German town , MD
F o r d Aerospace and S/X Band Antenna Subsystem:
Commun ica t i o n s Corp S o l i d S t a t e Amplifiers
P a l o A l t o , CA
Frequency E l e c t r o n i c s , Inc. Ultra Stable Oscillators
New Hyde P a r k , NY
General Electric Co. Radioisotope T h e r m o e l e c t r i c
Space D i v i s i o n Generators
P h i l a d e l p h i a , PA
G e n e r a l E l e c t r i c Co. Computer Command Subsystem:
Utica, NY F l i g h t C o n t r o l Processors

G e n e r a l E l e c t r i c Co. A t t i t u d e C o n t r o l and
Space S y s t e m s O r g a n i z a t i o n A r t i c u l a t i o n Subsystem
V a l l e y F o r g e ? PA
H i-S h e a r Corp .
Ordnance D i v i s i o n
Pyrotechnic Squibs

T o r r a n c e ? CA
Honeywell I I n c
L e x i n g t o n , MA
. Canopus S t a r T r a c k e r s

Hughes A i r c r a f t Co. Radiation Characterization

Aerospace Group o f P a r t s and Materials
C u l v e r C i t y , CA
Lockheed E l e c t r o n i c s Co. Data S t o r a g e Tape T r a n s p o r t
I n d u s t r i a l T e c h n o l o g y Div.
P l a i n f i e l d , NJ

-49-
Martin Marietta Aerospace A t t i t u d e Control Electronics;
Denver, CO P r o p u l s i o n Subsystem

Motorola, I n c . Modula tion/Demodula t i o n

Government E l e c t r o n i c s Div. Subsystem:
S c o t t s d a l e , A2 Rad i o F r e q u e n c y S u b s y s t e m

R o c k e t R e s e a r c h Corp. Rocket Engine and T h r u s t e r

Redmond, WA Valve Assemblies

S C I Systems, Inc. C o m p u t e r Command S u b s y s t e m

H u n t s v i l l e , AL Memories

Teledyne M i c r o e l e c t r o n i c s Hybrid Memories f o r F l i g h t

Los A n g e l e s , CA Data S u b s y s t e m

Texas I n s t r u m e n t s Data S t o r a g e E l e c t r o n i c s
D a l l a s , TX
T h e S i n g e r Company Dry I n e r t i a l R e f e r e n c e
L i t t l e Falls, N J U n i t s (Gyroscopes)

T h i o k o l Chemical Corp. S o l i d R o c k e t Motor

Elkton Division
E l k t o n , MD
W a t k i n s - J o h n s o n Co. S/X Band T r a v e l i n g Wave
Palo A l t o , CA Tube A m p l i f i e r s

Xerox Corp. Power S u b s y s tern

E l e c t r o - O p t i c a l Systems
P a s a d e n a , CA
Yardney E l e c t r o n i c s Corp. F l i g h t and T e s t B a t t e r y
Denver, CO Assemblies

Science Instruments
M a s s a c h u s e t t s I n s t i t u t e of Plasma Subsystem
Techno 1ogy _. ... . -
I

C a m b r i d g e , MA
U n i v e r s i t y of C o l o r a d o P h o t o p o l a r i m e t e r Subsystem
B o u l d e r , CO

U n i v e r s i t y of Iowa P l a s m a Wave S u b s y s t e m
Iowa C i t y , I A
Xerox Corp. Imaging S c i e n c e ( T V )
Electro-Optical S y s t e m s Electronics
P a s a d e n a , CA
K i t t Peak N a t i o n a l O b s e r v a t o r y U l t r a v i o l e t Spectrometer
T u c s o n , AZ
-50-
Johns Hopkins University Low Energy Charged
Applied Physics Laboratory Particle Subsystem
Baltimore, MD
Goddard Space Flight Center Magnetometers: Cosmic Ray
Greenbelt, MD Subsystem
Texas Instruments Modified Infrared
Dallas, TX Interferometer Spectrometer
and Radiometer
Martin Marietta Aerospace Planetary Radio Astronomy
Denver, CO Subsystern
Astro Research Corp. Magnetometer Boom: Planetary
Santa Barbara, CA Radio Astronomy Antennas
TRW Defense and Space Systems Ultraviolet Spectrometer
Redondo Beach, CA Electronics
Matrix Corp. Plasma Subsystem Electronics
Acton, MA
General Electrodynamics Corp. TV Vidicons
Dallas, TX

#####

-51-
A P P E N D I X A: EARTH-S PACECRAFT COMMUNICATIONS

The c o m m u n i c a t i o n process between Voyager 2 and E a r t h i n v o l v e s

several unique features. T r a n s m i s s i o n o f commands is c o n s t r a i n e d
by f a i l u r e o f t h e prime r a d i o r e c e i v e r and p a r t i a l f a i l u r e o f t h a t
p o r t i o n o f t h e back-up receiver u s e d t o a q u i r e and t r a c k t h e t r a n s -
mitted signal. S e v e r a l s p e c i a l a c t i o n s h a v e b e e n t a k e n t o accom-
modate t h e l i m i t a t i o n . Data t r a n s m i s s i o n t o E a r t h t a k e s a d v a n t a g e
of t h e b e n e f i t s of i n c r e a s i n g a p p a r e n t s i z e o f t h e r e c e i v i n g a n t e n n a

b y a r r a y i n g t o g e t h e r t w o a n t e n n a s , b u t i s complicated by t h e
effects of terrestial weather.
Earth to Spacecraft - - Uplink
Voyager was l a u n c h e d w i t h two p h a s e - l o c k - l o o p radio receivers.

U n l i k e a c a r r a d i o r e c e i v e r , which can b e t u n e d t o r e c e i v e s i g n a l s
from s t a t i o n s t r a n s m i t t i n g a t d i f f e r e n t f r e q u e n c i e s , t h e Voyager
r e c e i v e r s h a v e a s i n g l e " b e s t - l o c k f r e q u e n c y " ( B L F ) and t h e c a p a b i l i t y
o f l o c k i n g o n t o and t h e n t r a c k i n g a r e c e i v e d s i g n a l o v e r a f r e q u e n c y
r a n g e o f 500#000 H e r t z c e n t e r e d o n t h e r e c e i v e r s ' B L F . The 500,000
Hertz is c a l l e d t h e tracking-loop bandwidth. A tracking-loop

b a n d w i d t h o f a t l e a s t 150,000 H e r t z i s r e q u i r e d t o accommodate t h e
D o p p l e r e f f e c t s i n d u c e d by r o t a t i o n of E a r t h a n d a c c e l e r a t i o n o f
t h e s p a c e c r a f t b y t h e p l a n e t , and t o accommodate c h a n g e s i n t h e
BLF c a u s e d b y t e m p e r a t u r e v a r i a t i o n s i n t h e r e c e i v e r . Deep S p a c e
S t a t i o n s ( D S S ) cause t h i s t o happen by slowly i n c r e a s i n g o r decreas-
i n g t h e t r a n s m i t t e d f r e q u e n c y o v e r a p o r t i o n of t h e t r a c k i n g band-
w i d t h t o allow t h e s p a c e c r a f t r e c e i v e r t o l o c k onto t h e t r a n s m i t t e d
signal. T h i s i s called ramping. The s t a t i o n t h e n t u n e s t o a
f i x e d f r e q u e n c y f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e t r a c k i n g p e r i o d , u s u a l l y

-5 2-
 . L

8 t o 12 h o u r s . F r e q u e n c y s h i f t s d u r i n g t h e rest o f t h e t r a c k i n g
p e r i o d d u e t o r o t a t i o n o f E a r t h , a b o u t 6 , 0 0 0 H e r t z , or s p a c e c r a f t
a c c e l e r a t i o n , a s h i g h a s 82,000 H e r t z n e a r S a t u r n closest a p r o a c h ,

a r e t h e n accommodated by t h e l a r g e t r a c k i n g b a n d w i d t h .
I n A p r i l 1978 t h e Voyager 2 p r i m e r e c e i v e r f a i l e d and t h e
back-up r e c e i v e r was d e t e r m i n e d t o h a v e a s h o r t e d c a p a c i t o r i n t h e
phase-lock-loop filter. The s h o r t reduces t h e t r a c k i n g - l o o p band-

w i d t h from 500,000 H e r t z t o 200 H e r t z . The n a r r o w n e s s of t h e new

b a n d w i d t h r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e f r e q u e n c y t r a n s m i t t e d f r o m t h e DSS b e
c o n s t a n t l y t u n e d t o remove t h e r o t a t i n g E a r t h and s p a c e c r a f t ac-
celeration e f f e c t s . A v a r i e t y o f ground c o n s t r a i n t s r e q u i r e s t h a t

t h e f r e q u e n c y r e c e i v e d by t h e s p a c e c r a f t n o t v a r y b y more t h a n
a b o u t 50 H e r t z from t h e BLF. An emergency d e v e l o p m e n t o f s p e c i a l
h a r d w a r e r e s u l t e d i n t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t . But

there is a n o t h e r c o m p l i c a t i o n . The s e n s i t i v i t y o f t h e r e c e i v e r ' s

v o l t a g e - c o n t r o l l e d o s c i l l a t o r to s m a l l c h a n g e s i n t h e r e c e i v e r
temperature, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 380 H e r t z per d e g r e e C e l s i u s , causes
l a r g e s w i n g s i n t h e BLF, r e l a t i v e t o t h e 200 H e r t z b a n d w i d t h .
Examples of e v e n t s t h a t i n d u c e t e m p e r a t u r e v a r i a t i o n s l a r g e e n o u g h
t o c h a n g e t h e BLF are p o w e r c h a n g e s a n y w h e r e o n t h e s p a c e c r a f t t o - --
more t h a n two w a t t s a n d s p a c e c r a f t m a n e u v e r s t h a t c h a n g e t h e s o l a r
i l l u m i n a t i o n of t h e main s t r u c t u r e .
The sequence o f events f o r t h e Voyager 2 S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r
h a s b e e n d e s i g n e d t o r e f l e c t t h e s e n s i t i v i t y of t h e BLF t o t e m p e r a t u r e
variations. A h i s t o r y of t h e e f f e c t s o n t h e BLF o f v a r i o u s c o n f i g u r -
a t i o i c h a n g e s and maneuvers has been documente3 i n a F l i g h t Rule.
The r u l e s p e c i f i e s t h e t i m e ( r e f e r r e d to a s a "command m o r a t o r i u m "

-53-
s i n c e command l o a d s c a n n o t b e t r a n s m i t t e d and r e l i a b l y r e c e i v e d by
t h e s p a c e c r a f t d u r i n g t h o s e periods) t h a t must be set a s i d e to

allow t h e t h e r m a l t r a n s i e n t r e s u l t i n g from an e v e n t t o s t a b i l i z e .
Normal command moratoria a r e between 24 and 72 h o u r s . Near t h e
e n d o f a command m o r a t o r i u m , s p e c i a l procedures a r e u s e d t o m e a s u r e

t h e new BLF. The same p r o c e d u r e s are p e r f o r m e d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g

o f most DSS t r a c k i n g p e r i o d s t o c o n f i r m t h a t n o u n e x p e c t e d c h a n g e s
i n t h e BLF h a v e occurred.
E x e c u t i o n of t h e BLF d e t e r m i n a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s a n d re-
s t r i c t i o n s on s p a c e c r a f t a c t i v i t y are i m p o r t a n t b e f o r e command
l o a d p e r i o d s and n a v i g a t i o n t r a c k i n g c y c l e s s i n c e a command load
p e r i o d i s 1 2 h o u r s l o n g and nav c y c l e s a r e b e t w e e n 30 a n d 54 h o u r s
long. T h e f r e q u e n c y of command l o a d s and nav c y c l e s i s d i c t a t e d

by s p a c e c r a f t a c t i v i t y p l a n n e d f o r a g i v e n t i m e a n d t h e n e e d t o
o b t a i n m e a s u r e m e n t s o f t h e r a n g e and v e l o c i t y o f t h e s p a c e c r a f t
r e l a t i v e t o E a r t h so t h e t r a j e c t o r y c a n be d e t e r m i n e d . Between
25.8 d a y s b e f o r e S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r and o n e d a y a f t e r , s i x command
l o a d s a n d t h r e e n a v c y c l e s m u s t be accommodated, h a v i n g a n e t of
1 6 . 4 d a y s t o execute, one t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n maneuver, 1 4 science
m a n e u v e r s , and t h r e e s i g n i f i c a n t power c h a n g e s . The command mora-
t o r i a imposed by t h o s e e v e n t s add u p t o 8 . 4 d a y s , l e a v i n g a n e t of
e i g h t days of unsubscribed tracking t i m e . In addition to t h a t
b r o a d b a s e d problem, t h e d a y of S a t u r n c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h poses t w o
special d i f f i c u l t i e s . A key s c i e n c e o b j e c t i v e is d e t e r m i n a t i o n

o f t h e mass of T e t h y s . T h i s means t h e Spacecraft m u s t be i n

l o c k w i t h t h e t r a n s m i t t e d s i g n a l f o r a p e r i o d of a b o u t 50 m i n u t e s ,
b e g i n n i n g less t h a n f i v e m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n of t h e e x i t

-54-
E a r t h - o c c u l t a t i o n maneuver performed f o r r a d i o s c i e n c e . During
E a r t h o c c u l t a t i o n (when t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s h i d d e n from E a r t h ) t w o
of t h e l a r g e s t power t r a n s i e n t s o f t h e e n t i r e e n c o u n t e r a r e made
t o a c h i e v e c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r t h e r a d i o science m a n e u v e r s . The
X-band t r a n s m i t t e r i s reduced t o l o w power a n d t h e S-band t r a n s -
mitter i s raised t o h i g h power f o r a n e t power i n c r e a s e of 28
w a t t s , a n d t h e t e l e m e t r y d r i v e r s a r e t u r n e d o f f f o r a n e t decrease
o f approximately one watt. Those c h a n g e s t o t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n a r e
i n e f f e c t f o r 2.5 h o u r s o n l y , e n d i n g 1 5 m i n u t e s b e f o r e t h e end o f
t h e e x i t E a r t h - o c c u l t a t i o n r a d i o s c i e n c e m a n e u v e r s : however, t h e y
a r e e x p e c t e d t o cause a s h i f t i n t h e BLF o f a t l e a s t 65 H e r t z .
N o r m a l l y , t h e s e c h a n g e s w o u l d r e s u l t i n a 72-hour command morator-
ium. The s h o r t n e s s o f t h e period f o r which t h e t r a n s m i t t e r power
c h a n g e s a r e i n e f f e c t s u g g e s t s t h a t a s h o r t e n e d command m o r a t o r i u m
o f 1 2 h o u r s would be s u f f i c i e n t . As a c o n t i n g e n c y f o r a n error in
p r o g n o s i s , a second l o a d - s t a r t p o i n t h a s been planned a t 4 6 h o u r s
a f t e r S a t u r n closest approach, o r 1 9 h o u r s a f t e r t h e nominal load-
s t a r t point. Thus, s h o u l d i t b e n e c e s s a r y t o u s e t h e c o n t i n g e n c y
p l a n , a b o u t 1 9 h o u r s o f s c i e n c e d a t a would b e l o s t .
Spacecraft to Earth -- Downlink
Key e l e m e n t s of t h e Voyager d o w n l i n k c o n s i s t o f l o w
t e m p e r a t u r e r e c e i v e r s a t t h e Deep Space S t a t i o n s , e f f i c i e n t
e r r o r - c o r r e c t i o n codes f o r f o r m a t t i n g t h e d a t a , and u s e of X-band
f r e q u e n c i e s ( 8 , 0 0 0 m e g a H e r t z ) t o maximize d o w n l i n k d a t a r a t e s .
The low-temperature r e c e i v e r s a r e c r u c i a l t o d e t e c t i o n of t h e
e x t r e m e l y week s i g n a l (O.OOO,OOO,OOO,OOO,OOO 1 watt) s’riking the
DSS a n t e n n a .

-55-
 Most o f t h e d a t a t r a n s m i t t e d by t h e s p a c e c r a f t is con-
v o l u t i o n a l l y c o d e d . Coding t h e d a t a i n t h a t manner r e s u l t s i n a
p r o b a b i l i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n for b i t errors t h a t is v e r y s e n s i t i v e
to t h e signal-to-noise r a t i o of t h e r e c e i v e r . S p e c i f i c a l l y a
2 5 percent c h a n g e (1 d B ) i n t h e s i g n a l - t o - n o i s e ratio r e s u l t s
i n a factor-of-10 c h a n g e i n t h e bit-error r a t e .
A l t e r n a t i v e l y , s i n c e s i m u l t a n e o u s r e c e i p t and p r o c e s s i n g
o f t h e r e c e i v e d s i g n a l f r o m t h e spacecraft b y t w o c o - l o c a t e d
s t a t i o n s (one 64-meter a n d o n e 34-meter) increases t h e receiver
signal-to-noise r a t i o b y a b o u t 1 d B , errors i n t h e d a t a c a n be
reduced by 9 0 p e r c e n t b y a r r a y i n g a 64-meter and a 34-meter Deep
S p a c e s t a t i o n . F o r t h e p e r i o d between 26 d a y s b e f o r e e n c o u n t e r
t o a b o u t seven days a f t e r c l o s e s t approach a r r a y i n g is performed
at t h e DSS complexes t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h e improved perfor-

mance .
Loss of t h e 34-meter s t a t i o n d u r i n g a n y a r r a y e d t r a c k
would r e s u l t i n r e d u c t i o n o f d a t a q u a l i t y o r q u a n t i t y , b u t n o t
i n t h e loss of a l l d a t a . Loss of t h e 64-meter a n t e n n a would __
cause loss of X-band c a p a b i l i t y , reducing t h e data t o e n g i n e e r i n g
measurements o n l y .

The X-band s i g n a l is s t r o n g l y a f f e c t e d b y bad w e a t h e r

-- water v a p o r o r r a i n . S e q u e n c e s h a v e b e e n ' d e s i g n e d t o accommodate
s t a t i s t i c a l w e a t h e r v a r i a t i o n s . On most d a y s d o w n l i n k p e r f o r m a n c e
w i l l be good. Data l o s s c o u l d be e x t e n s i v e o n d a y s w h e r e h e a v y
r a i n o r snow f a l l s o n t h e a n t e n n a s . Those losses a r e n o t e x p e c t e d
t o e x c e e d 1 0 p e r c e n t of a l l d a t a . To p r o t e c t a g r : > i n s t e v e n t h o s e
losses -- w h e r e d a t a h a v e b e e n d e f i n e d a s u n i q u e or c r i t i c a l --
t h e d a t a a r e recorded by t h e s p a c e c r a f t and p l a y e d back twice
o v e r s e p a r a t e Deep Space Network s t a t i o n s . That p r o v i d e s a d d i t -

i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t p o s s i b l e bad weather.

-57-
APPENDIX B NAVIGATI O N OPERATIONS
Navigation is the art of determining where the spacecraft
is and where it is going, and making corrections to its
trajectory so it will arrive at the intended place at the desired
time. The process involves three conceptually different functions:
Making measurements that are sensitive to the space-
craft's position or velocity.
Using the observations to correct the prediction of
where, with respect to the target planet, the spacecraft is going
and when it will arrive at the predicted place. Using the predicted
arrival place and time to determine whether the spacecraft will be
close enough t o f h e desired aiming conditions to satisfy mission
requirements, and if not, computing the trajectory correction
maneuver necessary.
Navigation Measurements
Measurements for navigation are of two basic types:
radiometric and optical. Radiometric observations are made by a
station on Earth using radio signals to and from the spacecraft.
Optical observations are pictures taken by the camera of the target
body against the background of stars.
Radiometric observations are obtained by tracking the
spacecraft with the antennas of the Deep Space Network, strategi-
cally located at different longitudes on the Earth so that it is
possible to have the spacecraft in view at any time on a given
day. The tracking stations measure two quantities of interest to
the navigator: The difference in frequency between the signals
sent to the spacecraft and those received from it, caused by relative

-58-
m o t i o n b e t w e e n s p a c e c r a f t and s t a t i o n . T h a t d i f f e r e n c e is c a l l e d

Doppler s h i f t . I t i s t h e same e f f e c t t h a t causes a t r a i n w h i s t l e

t o c h a n g e i n p i t c h a s it passes a n o b s e r v e r , and i t p r o v i d e s t h e
n a v i g a t o r w i t h a precise measurement of t h e v e l o c i t y of t h e s p a c e -
c r a f t a l o n g t h e l i n e o f s i g h t from t h e s t a t i o n . The s t a t i o n s a l s o

measure t h e t i m e r e q u i r e d f o r a s i g n a l t o t r a v e l t o t h e spacecraft
and b a c k . T h a t i s c a l l e d r a n g e measurement b e c a u s e i t is d i r e c t l y

r e l a t e d t o t h e d i s t a n c e ( r a n g e ) b e t w e e n t h e s t a t i o n and t h e space-
craft.
Radiometric d a t a is used f o r n a v i g a t i o n d u r i n g a l l m i s s i o n

phases. However, d u r i n g e n c o u n t e r s o p t i c a l d a t a f r o m t h e cameras

complements r a d i o d a t a and becomes t h e n a v i g a t o r ' s most p o w e r f u l
tool. It h a s t h e advantage o f measuring t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s p o s i t i o n

r e l a t i v e t o t h e t a r g e t r a t h e r t h a n t o E a r t h and t h e f u r t h e r a d v a n t a g e
o f becoming more a c c u r a t e as t h e s p a c e c r a f t g e t s closer t o i t s
target.

Of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 7 , 5 0 0 p i c t u r e s expected t o be t a k e n by
Voyager 2 d u r i n g i t s S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r , a b o u t 1 8 0 a r e d e s i g n e d f o r -

o p t i c a l navigation. Those p i c t u r e s u s e t h e n a r r o w - a n g l e camera

f o r h i g h r e s o l u t i o n and a r e p l a n n e d t o c a p t u r e a s t a r image i n t h e
same f i e l d o f v i e w w i t h o n e o r more of S a t u r n ' s moons. Pictures
of t h e moons a r e u s e d r a t h e r t h a n S a t u r n i t s e l f because S a t u r n ' s
image would f i l l t h e n a r r o w - a n g l e f i e l d of v i e w 1 6 d a y s b e f o r e
S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r a n d w o u l d b e too l a r g e t o r e l i a b l y c a p t u r e w i t h a

s t a r much e a r l i e r t h a n t h a t . The s t a r p r o v i d e s a precise d i r e c t i o n

r e f e r e n c e i n t h e p i c t u r e from . , h i c h t h e s a t e l l i t e p o s i t i o n s c a n be
measured and t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s p o s i t i o n c a n be i n f e r r e d .

-59-
Orbit Determination
Turning raw measurements into predicted encounter condi-
tions is called orbit determination (OD in navigator's jargon).
Orbit determination is a differential correction process. The OD
analyst starts with a reference trajectory, usually his previous
best estimate, and computes a correction based on the difference
between what was observed in the navigation measurements and what
mathematical formulas predict should have been observed with the
current trajectory.
Accuracy of the estimated trajectory depends on the
accuracy of the measurements and on the accuracy and completeness
of the mathematical models embodied in computer programs that
represent everything known to significantly affect spacecraft
motion or the measurements. Uncertainties in such diverse quantities
as position of the target planet in the solar system, locations of
tracking stations on Earth's crust, wobble of the Earth about its
spin axis, solar pressure and attitude control activity on the
spacecraft, charged particles in space that delay the radio signals,
and electromagnetic distortion of images from the spacecraft cameras
limit the accuracy achievable.
Despite the diversity (and perversity) of error sources affect-
ing orbit determination, the Voyager spacecraft can be navigated
using only radiometric data to an accuracy slightly better than
one part in a million: At a distance of 1 million miles, navigation
error would be less than a mile. That is comparaole to hitting a
target the size of a baseball from 25 miles away. Unfortunately,

Saturn is 9 6 8 million miles from Earth at the time of Voyager 2's

-60-
. a

e n c o u n t e r , so t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g radiometric a c c u r a c y i s a b o u t 800
miles. T h a t i s why o p t i c a l d a t a i s so important f o r Voyager n a v i -
gation. I t e n a b l e s n a v i g a t o r s t o reduce t h e expected d e l i v e r y

error r e l a t i v e t o S a t u r n by a f a c t o r of 1 5 compared w i t h what

would be a c h i e v a b l e w i t h o n l y E a r t h - b a s e d tracking. Instead of
800 miles t h e e x p e c t e d error w i t h b o t h r a d i o a n d o p t i c a l d a t a is

55 miles. T h a t i s c o m p a r a b l e t o h i t t i n g a t a r g e t t h e s i z e of a n
a s p i r i n t a b l e t ( r a t h e r t h a n a b a s e b a l l ) 25 miles away.
S i n c e o p t i c a l d a t a c o n t i n u e s t o p r o v i d e more accurate measure-

ments a s t h e spacecraft g e t s c l o s e r t o S a t u r n , t r a j e c t o r y knowledge

c o n t i n u e s t o improve e v e n a f t e r t h e f i n a l t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n
maneuver h a s b e e n e x e c u t e d . The a d d i t i o n a l t r a j e c t o r y knowledge

c a n n o t a f f e c t t h e f l i g h t p a t h , b u t is v e r y i m p o r t a n t f o r e n s u r i n g
t h a t t h e science instruments are accurately pointed a t t h e i r intended
t a r g e t s d u r i n g t h e t i m e w i t h i n a few h o u r s o f c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h .

G e t t i n g c o r r e c t i n s t r u m e n t p o i n t i n g w i l l be most d i f f i c u l t for
o b j e c t s s u c h a s T e t h y s a n d E n c e l a d u s t h a t are viewed from close
r a n g e ( l e s s t h a n 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 km) and f o r o b j e c t s whose p o s i t i o n s a r e
l e s s w e l l known t h a n t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s . I n t h i s category a r e s e v e r a l
o f t h e r e c e n t l y d i s c o v e r e d s m a l l s a t e l l i t e s for which r e l a t i v e l y
close-up i m a g i n g w i l l b e a t t e m p t e d b y Voyager 2. One of t h e n a v i -
g a t i o n c h a l l e n g e s for t h i s encounter is t h e " s a t e l l i t e p o i n t i n g
u p d a t e " , which b e g i n s 2 1/2 d a y s b e f o r e S a t u r n c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h ,
d u r i n g w h i c h improved o r b i t knowledge f o r t h e s a t e l l i t e s as w e l l
a s t h e s p a c e c r a f t w i l l be e x p l o i t e d t o make f i n a l c o r r e c t i o n s t o
t h e i n s t r u m e n t p o i n t i n g f o r s e l e c t e d 1Ct.y o b s e r v a t i o n s .
When t h e e x c i t e m e n t of t h e e n c o u n t e r h a s waned, t h e r e i s

-61-
one more o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n t a s k t o be done: The e n c o u n t e r t r a -
jectory r e c o n s t r u c t i o n . "Reconstruction" r e f e r s to t h e p r e c i s e
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , a f t e r t h e f a c t , of what t r a j e c t o r y was a c t u a l l y f l o w n
through t h e encounter. T h a t is e s s e n t i a l f o r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of
science d a t a f r o m t h e e n c o u n t e r , e s p e c i a l l y f o r some o f t h e r a d i o -
science investigations. The p o s t - e n c o u n t e r trajectory reconstruction
error ( r e l a t i v e t o S a t u r n ) w i l l be o n l y 2 % of t h e e x p e c t e d d e l i v e r y
error: T h e reconstructed t r a j e c t o r y w i l l b e a c c u r a t e t o a b o u t 1
mile. Ironically, i t i s n o t t h e o p t i c a l d a t a t h a t makes t h a t accu-
r a c y p o s s i b l e b u t t h e radiometric d a t a -- t h e Doppler measurements.

T h a t i s b e c a u s e S a t u r n ' s g r a v i t y causes t h e t r a j e c t o r y t o bend

d u r i n g t h e f l y b y , and t h e b e n d i n g i n d u c e s l a r g e v e l o c i t y c h a n g e s
t h a t a r e p r e c i s e l y measured by t h e Doppler. A s i d e b e n e f i t of t h e

r e c o n s t r u c t i o n is t h a t i t enables n a v i g a t o r s t o e v a l u a t e t h e i r
performance w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e pre-encounter orbit determination.
T r a j e c t o r y C o r r e c t i o n Maneuvers
T r a j e c t o r y correction m a n e u v e r s (TCMs) c o n t r o l t h e f l i g h t
p a t h by changing t h e s p a c e c r a f t ' s v e l o c i t y s l i g h t l y , e i t h e r speeding
i t up o r s l o w i n g i t down, and changing i t s d i r e c t i o n . TCMs a r e

a c c o m p l i s h e d by f o u r s m a l l t h r u s t e r s o n t h e spacecraft opposite-- -. --
t h e l a r g e high-gain antenna. To e x e c u t e a TCM t h e s p a c e c r a f t is

f i r s t t u r n e d so t h e t h r u s t e r s p o i n t i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n t o
e f f e c t t h e d e s i r e d v e l o c i t y change. Then t h e y a r e f i r e d . The
f o u r t h r u s t e r s a c t i n g t o g e t h e r e x e r t a maximum force o f 1 / 2 pound
on t h e s p a c e c r a f t . L e n g t h of t h e b u r n d e t e r m i n e s m a g n i t u d e of t h e

v e l o c i t y change. A v ) s l o c i t y change of 1 m i l e an h o u r requires a

b u r n of a b o u t 3 m i n u t e s . A t y p i c a l TCM c h a n g e s t h e v e l o c i t y b y

-6 2-
c

o n l y a f e w m i l e s an hour. Since t h e s p a c e c r a f t t r a v e l s through

t h e s o l a r s y s t e m a t 3 5 , 0 0 0 mph ( r e l a t i v e t o t h e s u n ) , a t y p i c a l
c o r r e c t i o n would r e p r e s e n t a c h a n g e o f 1 p a r t i n 1 0 , 0 0 0 or .01%.
The l a s t TCM e x e c u t e d by Voyager 2 was TCMB7 ( t h e s e v e n t h
TCM f o r t h e "B" s p a c e c r a f t ) o n Feb. 26, 1981. The f i n a l a p p r o a c h
t o S a t u r n w i l l be c o n t r o l l e d by t w o a d d i t i o n a l TCMs ( 8 8 a n d B9) o n
J u l y 1 9 ( S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r minus 3 7 d a y s ) and Aug. 18 ( e n c o u n t e r

minus 7 d a y s ) . Each maneuver is e x p e c t e d t o c h a n g e t h e v e l o c i t y

b y 1 t o 5 mph. T h e i r p l a c e m e n t was c h o s e n t o a c h i e v e t h e n e c e s s a r y
d e l i v e r y accuracy w i t h m i n i m a l p r o p e l l a n t .
The e n g i n e e r i n g t r a d e - o f f b e t w e e n a c c u r a c y a n d p r o p e l l a n t
-

u s e i s a major c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n p l a n n i n g t h e t r a j e c t o r y c o r r e c t i o n
strategy. The a c c u r a c y t o which t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s d e l i v e r e d t o i t s

t a r g e t i s d e t e r m i n e d by t h e f i n a l p r e - e n c o u n t e r TCM, which i n t u r n
i s l i m i t e d by t h e o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n a c c u r a c y a v a i l a b l e a t t h e
time. S i n c e OD a c c u r a c y i m p r o v e s a s t h e p l a n e t i s a p p r o a c h e d , a
l a t e TCM p r o v i d e s more a c c u r a t e d e l i v e r y . On t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
t h e v e l o c i t y change r e q u i r e d f o r a g i v e n c o r r e c t i o n i n e n c o u n t e r
p o s i t i o n is i n v e r s e l y p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e time-to-go. The closer
t h e s p a c e c r a f t i s t o S a t u r n when t h e TCM i s e x e c u t e d , t h e more
p r o p e l l a n t i s r e q u i r e d t o make t h e c o r r e c t i o n . For t h a t r e a s o n

t w o TCMs c o n t r o l t h e e n c o u n t e r t r a j e c t o r y r a t h e r t h a n o n e . TCMB8
w i l l remove most t r a j e c t o r y errors a c c u m u l a t e d d u r i n g p r e v i o u s
m o n t h s of c r u i s e when l i t t l e p r o p e l l a n t i s r e q u i r e d . Then TCMB9
w i l l t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h e improved OD a c c u r a c y t o make a f i n a l
small c o r r e c t i o n . T h a t two-maneuver a p p r o a c h u'ses o n l y a b o u t 4 0 %
of t h e p r o p e l l a n t r e q u i r e d i f a s i n g l e l a r g e c o r r e c t i o n were made

-63-
c

a t t h e t i m e of TCMBS. C o n s e r v a t i o n of p r o p e l l a n t i s i m p o r t a n t
f o r Voyager 2, a s i t s f l i g h t t o U r a n u s and Neptune d e p e n d s o n
s u f f i c i e n t f u e l beyond S a t u r n .
Targetinq Strategy
The aim p o i n t a t S a t u r n was selected t o c o n t i n u e t h e

"Grand T o u r " t r a j e c t o r y t h a t Voyager 2 is f o l l o w i n g t h r o u g h t h e

solar system. That t a r g e t i n g strategy u s e s t h e g r a v i t a t i o n a l f i e l d
o f e a c h p l a n e t t o " s l i n g " t h e s p a c e c r a f t on t o t h e n e x t p l a n e t .
Voyager 2 g a i n s e n e r g y w i t h e a c h p l a n e t a r y e n c o u n t e r . Had t h e r e

b e e n n o p l a n e t s t o e n c o u n t e r t h e s p a c e c r a f t would h a v e s t a y e d i n
o r b i t a r o u n d t h e Sun. I n s t e a d , u s i n g e n e r g y from t h e p l a n e t s , it

w i l l l e a v e t h e s o l a r s y s t e m a t 3 6 , 0 0 0 miles a n h o u r .
Each e n c o u n t e r i s c a r e f u l l y t a r g e t e d t o s e n d Voyager 2
t o t h e d e s i r e d p o s i t i o n a t . t h e n e x t p l a n e t , b u t a TCM i s n e e d e d t o
a d j u s t t h e timing of t h e next encounter. On S e p t . 29 a p o s t - S a t u r n
TCM ( c a l l e d B10) i s p l a n n e d t o a d j u s t t h e a r r i v a l t i m e a t Uranus

by t w o d a y s t o meet t h e Uranus s a t e l l i t e s M i r a n d a a n d A r i e l . TCMBlO

w i l l s p e e d u p t h e t r a j e c t o r y by 3 4 miles a n h o u r a n d w i l l correct
t h e d i r e c t i o n of f l i g h t t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r t h e d e l i v e r y error a t
Saturn. T h e r e i s a 4,500-to-1 m u l t i p l i e r b e t w e e n d e l i v e r y error
a t S a t u r n and t h e error a t Uranus: F o r e v e r y mile t h a t Voyager 2
misses i t s S a t u r n a i m p o i n t t h e r e s u l t i n g f l i g h t p a t h ( i f n o t cor-
r e c t e d ) w o u l d m i s s Uranus by 4 , 5 0 0 m i l e s . Thus, t h e m a g n i t u d e of
t h e v e l o c i t y c o r r e c t i o n t o be made by TCMBlO ( a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e
p r o p e l l a n t e x p e n d i t u r e ) is d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d to t h e S a t u r n - r e l a t i v e
d e l i v e r y erzor. That f u r t h e r emphasizes t h e importance of optical
d a t a i n e n h a n c i n g t h e o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n accuracy. Ccnsider that

-64-
w i t h o u t o p t i c a l d a t a t h e r e would be a 9 0 % c h a n c e o f h a v i n g e n o u g h
f u e l t o r e a c h t h e d e s i r e d Uranus e n c o u n t e r and o n l y a 1 0 % c h a n c e
of r e a c h i n g N e p t u n e , With o p t i c a l n a v i g a t i o n t h e f u e l for t h e
U r a n u s e n c o u n t e r i s a s s u r e d , and t h e p r o b a b i l i t y o f r e a c h i n g Neptune
is 99%.
Navigation Status
The f i g u r e shows t h e n a v i g a t i o n s t a t u s i n t h e " a i m p l a n e " .
( N a v i g a t o r s c a l l i t t h e "B-plane"). The aim p l a n e i s a n i m a g i n a r y
p l a n e p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e c e n t e r of t h e t a r g e t p l a n e t t h a t r e p r e s e n t s
t h e d e s i r e d e n c o u n t e r c o n d i t i o n s and o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n results.

I n c l u d e d a r e t h e a i m p o i n t a n d t h e c u r r e n t b e s t estimate (CBE) f o r
t h e e n c o u n t e r t r a j e c t o r y based o n o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n of May 1 5 ,
1981. Associated w i t h e a c h p o i n t i n t h e aim p l a n e i s a n a r r i v a l
t i m e e x p r e s s e d i n h o u r s , m i n u t e s , and s e c o n d s GMT o n Aug. 26,

1981. The e r r o r e l l i p s e d e f i n e s t h e u n c e r t a i n t y associated w i t h

t h e CBE. S t a t i s t i c a l l y , t h e r e is a 40% p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t t h e
a c t u a l t r a j e c t o r y i s w i t h i n t h e e r r o r e l l i p s e associated w i t h t h e
o r b i t d e t e r m i n a t i o n estimate. T h a t i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l be u p d a t e d
during t h e Saturn enounter.
Encounter T r a j e c t o r y Description - -. .
1 ~ . --
The Voyager 2 e n c o u n t e r d i f f e r s i n major respects from
t h e Voyager 1 S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r . S i n c e S a t u r n was s c h e d u l e d t o b e

t h e f i n a l p l a n e t a r y e n c o u n t e r f o r Voyager I, t h e t r a j e c t o r y could
be d e s i g n e d t o maximize t h e s c i e n c e r e t u r n a n d s a f e t y of t h e s p a c e -

c r a f t without regard to its post-Saturn c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . For

Voyager 2, t h e a i m p o i n t was d e f i n e d s o l e l y b y t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s t o
c o n t i n u e t h e trajectory t o Uranus. The a r r i v a l t i m e , h o w e v e r , was

-65-
s e l e c t e d t o p r o v i d e close e n c o u n t e r s w i t h some s a t e l l i t e s t h a t
were n o t s e e n close-up by Voyager 1 -- T e t h y s and E n c e l a d u s .
Closer a p p r o a c h e s t o H y p e r i o n , I a p e t u s , a n d Phoebe are a l s o a c h i e v e d
by Voyager 2, a l t h o u g h none i s r e a l l y close. Other differences

i n c l u d e a s l i g h t l y lower-altitude f l y b y o f S a t u r n and t h e a b s e n c e
o f a close T i t a n e n c o u n t e r , one o f t h e major o b j e c t i v e s of Voyager
1. Voyager 2 crosses t h e p o t e n t i a l l y h a z a r d o u s r i n g p l a n e o n l y
once r a t h e r t h a n twice, b u t i t does so a t a p o i n t much closer t o
S a t u r n , 2.85 S a t u r n r a d i i r a t h e r t h a n 6.26. A g e n e r a l view o f t h e
Voyager 2 S a t u r n e n c o u n t e r from a b o v e t h e t r a j e c t o r y p l a n e i s
shown i n t h e f i g u r e . Voyager 2 e n c o u n t e r s S a t u r n o n Aug. 25, 1 9 8 1 ,
a t a n o m i n a l s p a c e c r a f t e v e n t t i m e o f 8:24 p.m. PM'. Closest

a p p r o a c h w i l l be 161,094 km or 2.67 S a t u r n r a d i i from t h e p l a n e t

c e n t e r , w h i c h c o r r e s p o n d s to an a l t i t u d e of 1 0 1 , 0 0 0 km ( 6 3 , 0 0 0 m i )
a b o v e t h e c l o u d tops.
Prior t o closest approach, t h e s p a c e c r a f t e n c o u n t e r s

f i v e major s a t e l l i t e s : I a p e t u s (-74 h r s , 9 0 9 , 0 0 0 km), H y p e r i o n

(-26 h r s , 471,00Okm), T i t a n (-18 h r s , 666,000 km), Dione (-2 h r s ,
502,000 km), and M i m a s (-1 h r s , 3 1 0 , 0 0 0 km). The s p a c e c r a f t a l s o

e n c o u n t e r s f o u r minor s a t e l l i t e s o r "rocks:" S12 (-4 h r s , 318,000

k m ) S15 ( - 2 h r s , 313,000 km*), S17 (-1 h r , 154,000 km), a n d S 1 3
(-5 min, 107,000 km). I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e above s a t e l l i t e e n c o u n t e r s ,
t h e s t a r o c c u l t a t i o n of D e l t a - S c o r p i u s ( D s c h u b b a ) b y S a t u r n and
i t s r i n g s occurs b e f o r e t h e s p a c e c r a f t r e a c h e s p e r i a p s i s .
A f t e r S a t u r n closest a p p r o a c h , t h 2 s p a c e c r a f t f l i e s by
t h e f o u r r e m a i n i n g major s a t e l l i t e s : E n c e l a d u s (+21 m i n , 87,000
km), T e t h y s ( + 3 h r s , 93,000 km), Rhea ( + 3 h r s , 645,000 km) a n d

-6 6-
Phoebe (+lo d a y s , 2 , 0 7 6 , 0 0 0 km). Closest a p p r o a c h e s t o t h r e e more
r o c k s also occur a f t e r p e r i a p s i s : S14 ( + 9 min, 2 4 7 , 0 0 0 km), S10
( + 3 0 m i n , 2 2 3 , 0 0 0 k m ) ; a n d S11 ( + 4 2 min, 1 4 7 , 0 0 0 km). The t r a j e c t o r y

d e s c e n d i n g node ( r i n g p l a n e c r o s s i n g ) is r e a c h e d about 5 4 m i n u t e s
a f t e r closest a p p r o a c h t o S a t u r n , a t a r a n g e o f 1 7 2 , 1 0 9 km or 2 . 8 5 3
Saturn radii.

* Closest v i e w i n g d i s t a n c e . S15 i s o c c u l t e d b y S a t u r n a t closest

approach .

-6 7-