Jim Lux wrote:

Don't forget that DirecTV radiates a LOT more power than a typical deep
space probe. AND they often have a higher gain antenna. A geosync relay
satellite might have 96 TWTAs, each several hundred watts, on it,
feeding a very clever multiple feed dish which is many meters in
diameter (look at Thuraya, for instance).


Wow. 96 TWTs with several hundred watts each. From a satellite. And
what's the efficiency?

So these are powered by what? Small nuclear reactors?

Certainly not solar panels.

tom
K0TAR