Tral telemetry system
트랄 원격측정 시스템
A Soviet multi-channel radio telemetry system developed by OKB MEI (Moscow Energy Institute) for the R-7 ICBM. Using pulse-time modulation, it transmitted 6,000 measurements per second across 48 channels, and in March 1956 it won a state comparative test against the rival RTS-7 to become the primary telemetry system for the R-7. Sputnik 2 was deliberately left attached to the core stage so that Tral could transmit biological data; the system later flew on Vostok 1 and other early crewed spacecraft.
Related historical events
Sources
- Wikipedia (RU) Russian Wikipedia: definitive article covering Tral's development at OKB MEI, competition with RTS-7, 48-channel architecture, PPM modulation, use on R-7/Sputnik/Vostok, and service life into the 2000s
- Wikipedia (EN) English Wikipedia: confirms Tral as the early Soviet PPM telemetry system developed by OKB-MEI
- Wikipedia (EN) English Wikipedia: Sputnik 2 used the Tral_D system to transmit engineering and biological data; the satellite was not separated from the Blok A to keep Tral operational
- mentallandscape.com Don P. Mitchell's independent reference: details Tral PTM encoding, 48 channels, 6000 measurements/sec, Tral-V/Tral-Ts/Tral-G variants on R-7
- nasa.gov Boris Chertok, Rockets and People Vol. II (NASA): Tral won unanimous expert commission vote over RTS-7 using cutting-edge electronics
- russianspaceweb.com Anatoly Zak, RussianSpaceWeb: flight controllers intentionally left the Tral telemetry system on the core stage active during Sputnik 1