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(Redirected from Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System)
A 'Tracking and Data Relay Satellite' ('TDRS') is one of a network of communications satellites used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communication to satellites or the International Space Station. The system was designed to replace an existing network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's manned flight missions. The prime design goal was to increase the time spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred.
The initial seven satellites were built by TRW; later, three versions have been put together by Boeing's Satellite Systems division. 10 satellites have been launched. 9 satellites are still in service. All were managed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
The first TDRS was launched in 1983 on the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'''s first flight, STS-6. The Boeing-built Inertial Upper Stage that took the satellite from Challenger's orbit to its ultimate geostationary orbit did not deliver to the correct orbit. As a result, the satellite was forced to use its onboard thrusters to get it to the correct orbit. This reduced its operational lifetime, and has since been reduced to part-time duty supporting Antarctic communications.
The second was lost on the ''Challenger's 10th mission when it was destroyed with the ''Challenger'' shortly after liftoff on STS-51-L in 1986. The next five were launched on other shuttles. The three Boeing-built successors were launched on Atlas rockets in 2000 and 2002. A NASA press release summarized the capabilities of the system as a whole:
The communications systems on the TDRS satellites were designed to support multiple missions at the same time. Each satellite has S band, Ku band and Ka band systems which support multiple data-rates. The newer Boeing satellites are able to support more communications than the older TRW-built satellites.
★ First Generation TDRS
★ Second Generation TDRS
★ NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center TDRSS page
★ NASA's TDRSS program overview page
★ View current TDRS constellation (Java applet)
First Generation TDRS
Second Generation TDRS
A 'Tracking and Data Relay Satellite' ('TDRS') is one of a network of communications satellites used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communication to satellites or the International Space Station. The system was designed to replace an existing network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's manned flight missions. The prime design goal was to increase the time spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred.
The initial seven satellites were built by TRW; later, three versions have been put together by Boeing's Satellite Systems division. 10 satellites have been launched. 9 satellites are still in service. All were managed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
The first TDRS was launched in 1983 on the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'''s first flight, STS-6. The Boeing-built Inertial Upper Stage that took the satellite from Challenger's orbit to its ultimate geostationary orbit did not deliver to the correct orbit. As a result, the satellite was forced to use its onboard thrusters to get it to the correct orbit. This reduced its operational lifetime, and has since been reduced to part-time duty supporting Antarctic communications.
The second was lost on the ''Challenger's 10th mission when it was destroyed with the ''Challenger'' shortly after liftoff on STS-51-L in 1986. The next five were launched on other shuttles. The three Boeing-built successors were launched on Atlas rockets in 2000 and 2002. A NASA press release summarized the capabilities of the system as a whole:
"Working solo, TDRS-1 provided more communication coverage, in support of the September 1983 Shuttle mission, than the entire network of NASA tracking stations had provided in all previous Shuttle missions."
The communications systems on the TDRS satellites were designed to support multiple missions at the same time. Each satellite has S band, Ku band and Ka band systems which support multiple data-rates. The newer Boeing satellites are able to support more communications than the older TRW-built satellites.
| Contents |
| Satellite variants |
| Launch history |
| External links |
Satellite variants
★ First Generation TDRS
★ Second Generation TDRS
Launch history
| Name | Launch date | Mission name | NSSDC ID | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TDRS A | April 4, 1983 | STS-6 | 1983-026B | |
| TDRS B | January 28, 1986 | STS-51-L | TDRSS-B | destroyed in the ''Challenger'' disaster |
| TDRS C | September 29, 1988 | STS-26 | 1988-091B | |
| TDRS D | March 13, 1989 | STS-29 | 1989-021B | |
| TDRS E | August 2, 1991 | STS-43 | 1991-054B | |
| TDRS F | January 13, 1993 | STS-54 | 1993-003B | |
| TDRS G | July 13, 1995 | STS-70 | 1995-003B | replacement for the lost TDRS B |
| TDRS H | January 20, 2000 | Atlas IIa | 2000-034A | First of the second generation of Boeing TDRS |
| TDRS I | March 8, 2002 | Atlas IIa | 2002-011A | |
| TDRS J | December 04, 2002 | Atlas IIa | 2002-055A |
External links
★ NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center TDRSS page
★ NASA's TDRSS program overview page
★ View current TDRS constellation (Java applet)
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