Low Cost TDRSS Transmitter

The Low Cost TDRSS Transceiver (LCT2) is an enabling technology of the evolving vision of a Space Based Range.  This vision is to establish future Range architectures, designed to decrease the cost of launch operations while increasing range services and customer responsiveness.  LJT engineers have worked closely with NASA Wallops Flight Facility located at Wallops Island, Virginia over the last five years to develop the LCT2.  The LCT2 has been successfully transferred through NASA’s Technology Transfer Program to provide LJT exclusive rights to production.

LCT2 provides bi-directional communication through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) that meets suborbital and orbital launch vehicle needs for Space Based Range (SBR) communications.  The LCT2 made a successful maiden voyage demonstrating the SBR vision for the COSMIC mission aboard a Minotaur launch vehicle in April 2006.  For the first time, the Range Safety Office was provided with real-time, over-the-horizon, metric tracking data for the entire flight through orbital separation.  Since this successful demonstration, more than a dozen potential customers have requested this technology for future missions.

Product Specifications

LCT2 10W Transmitter Specs (PDF)
LCT2 20W Transmitter Specs (PDF)
LCT2 30W Transceiver Specs (PDF)




Completed Missions

· 20W Transmitter   SubTec II   Wallops Research Range   2008
· Ku Band Modulator   NGSP   Wallops Research Range   2008
· 10W Transmitter   Falcon1   Kwajalein   2007
· 20W Transmitter   COSMIC   Vandenberg AFB   2006

Future Mission Flights

· 20W Transmitter   SOAREX   Wallops Research Range   2008
· 10W Transmitter   Classified MDA mission   2008
· 10W Transmitter   MLAS   Wallops Research Range   2008
· 20W Transceiver   AFSS TA3   Wallops Research Range   2009