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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Globalstar Telecommunications Limited GSAT
GSAT 62.88-0.5%3:59 PM EST
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To: Jeff Vayda who wrote (4059)4/22/1999 9:43:00 PM
From: CommSatMan  Read Replies (1) of 29987
 
A ten year design life at 1440 Km is difficult to achieve because of the effects of radiation on electronic components. There are three phonomena associated with radiation and the Van Allen Belts that effect satellites.

First is something called Single Event Latchup. This is where the radiation breaks down your electronic component and you essentially have a short to ground. This is mitigated by design and by using special processes to manufacture the parts.

Second is something called Single Event Upset. This is where radiation results in a bit error within an electronic component. This is mitigated by design, such as error detection and correction or voting.

Third is total dose and this effects the lifetime of the component. Electronic components exposed to radiation age more rapidly. As a result, they begin to fail. This aspect is mitigated by selecting special screened parts and "hardened components." As you work through the reliability to take you to a 10 year lifetime, you need more redundancy and are more screened parts. This drives up the cost of the satellite.

It is always a cost benefit trade to increasing satellite lifetime. 7 1/2 years is very good and helps defray costs and gives G* an advantage over Iridium. Going to 10 years could eat up that advantage because of the radiation impact.
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