List of TDRS satellites
Appearance
This is a list of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites. TDRS spacecraft are all in geostationary orbit and are operated by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and are used for communication between NASA facilities and spacecraft,[1] including the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, and International Space Station.
As of 1 March 2019, 12 of the TDRS satellites launched were operational, two (TDRS-3, TDRS-5) had been placed in storage, two (TDRS-1 and TDRS-4) had been retired, and one (TDRS-B) had been lost in a launch failure.[2][3][4]
Satellites
Designation | Launch, UTC | Launch vehicle | Launch site | Longitude | Status | Retirement | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Launch | Operational | ||||||||
First generation | |||||||||
TDRS-A | TDRS-1 | 4 April 1983 18:30:00[5] |
Space Shuttle Challenger/IUS (STS-6)[6] |
Kennedy, LC-39A | 41° W, 62° W, 171° W | Retired[4] | 27 June 2010[7] | IUS malfunctioned, raised orbit using maneuvering thrusters. End of life October 2009.[8] Placed in a graveyard orbit on 27 June 2010.[4] | |
TDRS-B | N/A | 28 January 1986 16:38:00[5] |
Space Shuttle Challenger/IUS (STS-51-L) |
Kennedy, LC-39B | N/A | Destroyed | 28 January 1986 16:39:13 |
Launch failure Shuttle disintegrated during ascent | |
TDRS-C | TDRS-3 | 29 September 1988 15:37:00[5] |
Space Shuttle Discovery/IUS (STS-26R)[6] |
Kennedy, LC-39B | 62° W[4] | In storage[4] | December 2011[9] | ||
TDRS-D | TDRS-4 | 13 March 1989 14:57:00[5] |
Space Shuttle Discovery/IUS (STS-29R)[6] |
Kennedy, LC-39B | Retired[4] | April/May 2012[10] | Placed in a graveyard orbit.[4] | ||
TDRS-E | TDRS-5 | 2 August 1991 15:02:00[5] |
Space Shuttle Atlantis/IUS (STS-43)[6] |
Kennedy, LC-39A | 167° W[4] | In storage[4] | |||
TDRS-F | TDRS-6 | 13 January 1993 13:59:30[5] |
Space Shuttle Endeavour/IUS (STS-54)[6] |
Kennedy, LC-39B | 46° W[4] | Active[4] | |||
TDRS-G | TDRS-7 | 13 July 1995 13:41:55[5] |
Space Shuttle Discovery/IUS (STS-70) |
Kennedy, LC-39B | 85° E[4] | Active[4] | Replaced TDRS-B | ||
Second generation | |||||||||
TDRS-H | TDRS-8 | 30 June 2000 12:56[5] |
Atlas IIA | Canaveral, SLC-36A | 89° E[4] | Active[4] | |||
TDRS-I | TDRS-9 | 8 March 2002 22:59[5] |
Atlas IIA | Canaveral, SLC-36A | 12° W[4] | Retired[4] | |||
TDRS-J | TDRS-10 | 5 December 2002 02:42[5] |
Atlas IIA | Canaveral, SLC-36A | 171° W[11] | Active[4] | |||
Third generation | |||||||||
TDRS-K | TDRS-11 | 31 January 2013 01:48:00 |
Atlas V 401 | Canaveral, SLC-41 | 174° W[11] | Active[4] | USD$350 million cost, paid to Boeing under a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract.[12] | ||
TDRS-L | TDRS-12 | 24 January 2014 02:33:00[13] |
Atlas V 401 | Canaveral, SLC-41 | 41° W[4] | Active[4] | USD$350 million cost, FFP contract.[12] | ||
TDRS-M | TDRS-13 | 18 August 2017 12:29:00 [14] |
Atlas V 401[14] | Canaveral, SLC-41[14] | 49° W | Active | USD$289 million firm-fixed-price contract option with Boeing; option exercised in November 2011, ahead of expiry on 30 November 2012.[12] | ||
TDRS-N | Option not exercised[15][16] |
References
- ^ "NASA'S Tracking and Data Relay Satellite". NASA Facts Online. December 1992. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2009-06-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman-Built TDRS-1 Satellite Reaches 25 Years of Operational Success and Sets New Standard for Longevity, Reliability". Reuters. 2008-04-07. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ "TDRS: 25 Years of Connecting Space To Earth". NASA. 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2009-06-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Fleet". NASA. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e "NASA'S Tracking and Data Relay Satellite". NASA Facts Online. December 1992. Archived from the original on 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2009-06-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "NASA Retires First Data Relay Satellite After Stellar Career". NASA. June 25, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "TDRS-1 Satellite Reaches 25 Years Of Age". Space Mart. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- ^ "Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)". NASA. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ "TDRS-4 Mission Complete; Spacecraft Retired From Active Service". NASA. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "TDRS Satellites Two-Line-Elements (TLE". Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ a b c "TDRS-K Launch Caught Up In Cascade of Florida Delays". Space News. 2012-11-02. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
- ^ Graham, William (23 January 2014). "ULA opens 2014 campaign with Atlas V launch of TDRS-L". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ a b c "Spaceflight Now Launch Schedule". SpaceflightNow.com. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ Leone, Dan (12 March 2014). "NASA Wants Laser Communications for TDRS Follow-on, Needs Industry Money First". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "TDRS 11, 12, 13". Retrieved 11 April 2017.