Power received averages about 60 W over the diameter of the first minimum for the 2.38 GHz, and 10 W for the 430 MHz radar. Times of passage are about 0.1 and 0.6 seconds, respectively. The 60 W figure is enough to power a photograph flash as described above. A corporate or departmental logo could be printed on the outer surface of the reflector with something transparent to microwaves but opaque to visible light. The choice of the logo to print on the reflector could be determined by a competitive bidding process with the proceeds going to help finance the project. Program Costs The objective of this design example was to demonstrate trans-atmospheric microwave beaming as well as microwave reception in space for under $10 million. Program costs would include satellite construction, satellite launch, use of the Arecibo radar systems, ground station operations for data reception from the satellite, data processing costs, and staff salaries. Fabrication of the inflatable reflector would probably constitute the largest program cost. Recent estimates place the cost of a 10 meter inflatable antenna at about $6 million. [11] Taking into account the structural simplification of the intended receiving reflector as opposed to a transmitting antenna, one could use that figure as the cost for the entire satellite. The launch costs for an entire ASAP ring of 4 or 6 microsats have been quoted at around $1 million. These costs are somewhat variable, and universities have been known to get much cheaper launches. So one can guess that the cost to launch a satellite taking two of the positions would be around $500,000. Operating costs for Arecibo would not be high; with an average encounter rate of 5 passes/inonth over mission life of about two years, 120 data collection runs could be made. According to Mike Sulzer of Arecibo, "It is a little hard for me to estimate the cost of running the 2380 MHz radar since we do not charge (although we do recover certain exceptional expenses in infrequent cases). I would guess several thousand dollars an hour if you need a number. It really is not practical to think about seconds or minutes; you need at least two hours to get things set up and going." [7] So at $5,000/hour for 120 2-hour periods, the cost would at worst be $1.2 million, and at best would be free. With another couple of hundred thousand dollars thrown in for ground station costs and staff salaries, the total program cost might come to about $8 million. So even if the cost of producing the inflatable was substantially greater than expected, the program would still meet the $10 million target. Time-Table It is believed that this program could be carried out over a period of 5 years starting in 1994. Design would begin in 1994 and last throughout the year. Hardware development would begin in 1995, and actual manufacturing of the satellite systems in early 1996. Testing would be started in mid-1997 while manufacturing of some of the
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