SNAP 19 Viking Program. Bimonthly technical progress report, February 1980-March 1980

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5230800· OSTI ID:5230800

Viking 1 Lander power system data has not been available during this reporting period, but summary reports indicate no anomalies in performance. Monitoring and evaluation of Viking 2 Lander power system data continued. Temperature data were similar to those 23 months ago, but combined RTG output power was down by 7 watts from the 75 watts recorded in February of 1978. On February 7, 1980, during a scheduled relay transmission the Lander 2 battery voltage dropped below 26.5 volts. With the orbiter attitude control gas supply nearly depleted and the space network stations required for Voyager encounter with Saturn later this year, the final relay from Viking Lander 2 had been scheduled to take place on April 11. The attempt was made but no data were received. Power system performance data for Pioneer 10 and Pioneer Saturn (initially designated Pioneer 11) were monitored. The estimated RTG system net power was 115 watts for both, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer Saturn. The telemetry signal quality from Pioneer Saturn remains excellent. Pioneer 10, for the first time, shows a loss of signal strength.

• Research Organization: Teledyne Energy Systems, Timonium, MD (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC01-80ET32066
• OSTI ID: 5230800
• Report Number(s): TES-32066-3; ON: DE84010248
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
070300* -- Isotopic Power Supplies
DATA
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
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MARS SPACE PROBES
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE
PLANETS
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VIKING SPACE PROBES