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NASA Probe Blasts 461 Gigabytes of Moon Data Daily
coondoggie writes "On its current space scouting mission, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is using a pumped up communications device to deliver 461 gigabytes of data and images per day, at a rate of up to 100 Mbps.
As the first high data rate K-band transmitter to fly on a NASA spacecraft, the 13-inch-long tube, called a Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier, is making it possible for NASA scientists to receive massive amounts of images and data about the moon's surface and environment.
The amplifier was built by L-3 Communications Electron Technologies in conjunction with NASA's Glenn Research Center. The device uses electrodes in a vacuum tube to amplify microwave signals to high power. It's ideal for sending large amounts of data over a long distance because it provides more power and more efficiency than its alternative, the transistor amplifier, NASA stated." It kills me that the moon has better bandwidth than my house.
The article admits that the Traveling Wave Tubes are not new, but it also lists several points that make this implementation better and very much noteworthy compared to its predecessors. You seem to have an interest in/knowledge of these communication devices, so I would say that the article is actually a worthwhile read for you.
Did they even bother to seal the tube, or are they using the vacuum of space?