Is it just me, or was anyone else somewhat surprised to hear them say that this brand new satellite technology was using tube amps, and not solid state? Aren't we a little past "analog" once we launch something into space? I have a tube amp, and while it makes great music, it is frigging hot and has occasionally blown a tube. Are they going to launch a shuttle mission to unscrew the old tube and insert another one? This all just seems odd to me...
Well, consider this... first off, when out of the direct rays of the sun, space is a very cold vacuum... it doesn't sound like there's much out there to affect the tubes.