x-band
Noun
Meaning
x-band (plural x-bands)
(physics) An ultrahigh radio frequency, one within the range of 8.0 to 12.0 GHz.
Examples
A component within the last remaining working chain of X-band downlink sub-system failed on January 15, 2008.
Earth occultation occurred between 17:07 UT and 17:11 UT, during which the spacecraft transmitted X-band radio waves through Venus' atmosphere, gathering data on cloud structure and temperature.
Debris was also tracked using a pair of Weibel Continuous Pulse Doppler X-band radars, one on board the SRB recovery ship MV Liberty Star positioned north east of the launch pad and on a ship positioned south of the launch pad.
Marine radar uses X-band microwaves with wavelengths of 2.5 - 3.75 cm, so small reflectors less than 30 cm across are used.
The downlink communications are carried out by an X-band microwave transmitter on board the spacecraft, with an S-band transmitter as a back-up.
The failure of the X-band communications sub-system hastened this, because the coldest part of the fuel pipework was routed over the X-band TWTAs which, when one of them was operating, kept this part of the pipework sufficiently warm.