Tracking and data relay satellite: Difference between revisions

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{{outdated|date=June 2024}}

{{Short description|American communications satellite}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}

{{Redirect|TDRS|the record label|TDRSTravis MusicDickerson}}

{{broader|Inter-satellite radiocommunication satellite}}

[[File:TDRS Heart of Communication.ogv|thumb|350px|The launch of TDRS-K begins the replenishment of the fleet through the development and deployment of the next generation spacecraft.]]

[[File:Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Orbital Fleet Communicating with User Spacecraft.ogg|thumb|350px|This visualization begins by showing how a typical spacecraft (NIMBUS-7) communicated with the ground before TDRS.]]

[[File:Map of TDRS.png|400px|thumb|Location of TDRS as of March 2019]]

A '''tracking and data relay satellite''' ('''TDRS''') is a type of [[communications satellite]] that forms part of the [[TDRSS|Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System]] (TDRSS) used by [[NASA]] and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as [[satellites]], balloons, aircraft, and the [[International Space Station]]. This system was designed to replace an existing worldwide network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's [[Human space flight|manned flight missions]] and unmanned satellites in low-Earth orbits. The primary system design goal was to increase the amount of time that these spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred. These TDRSS satellites are all designed and built to be launched to and function in [[geosynchronous orbit]], {{convert|35786|km|mi|abbr=on}} above the surface of the Earth.

[[File:TDRS Heart of Communication.ogv|thumb|The launch of TDRS-K begins the replenishment of the fleet through the development and deployment of the next generation spacecraft.]]

[[File:Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Orbital Fleet Communicating with User Spacecraft.ogg|thumb|This visualization begins by showing how a typical spacecraft (NIMBUS-7) communicated with the ground before TDRS.]]

[[File:Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Orbital Fleet Communicating with User Spacecraft 2017 - 360 video.webm|thumb|Visualization depicting TDRS satellites communicating with customer satellites.]]

A '''tracking and data relay satellite''' ('''TDRS''') is a type of [[communications satellite]] that forms part of the [[TDRSS|Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System]] (TDRSS) used by [[NASA]] and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as [[satellites]], balloons, aircraft, the [[International Space Station]], and remote bases like the [[Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station]]. This system was designed to replace an existing worldwide network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's [[Human space flight|crewed flight missions]] and uncrewed satellites in low-Earth orbits. The primary system design goal was to increase the amount of time that these spacecraft were in communication with the ground and improve the amount of data that could be transferred. These TDRSS satellites are all designed and built to be launched to and function in [[geosynchronous orbit]], {{convert|35786|km|mi|abbr=on}} above the surface of the Earth.

The first seven TDRSS satellites were built by the [[TRW Inc.|TRW]] corporation. The three later versions have been manufactured by the [[Boeing]] corporation's [[Boeing Satellite Systems|Satellite Systems]] division. Ten satellites have been launched; however, one was destroyed in a launch failure (the [[Challenger disaster]]). TDRS-1 was decommissioned in October 2009.<ref name=T1decomm>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0910/13tdrs/ |title=Breaking News &#124; NASA retires 'queen' of tracking satellite fleet |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date= |accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> TDRS-4 was decommissioned in December 2011. Seven TDRSS satellites are still in service.<ref name=spacecomm>{{cite web|url=https://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov/spacecomm/programs/tdrss/system_description.cfm |title=Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Fleet &#124; NASA |publisher=Spacecomm.nasa.gov |date=November 13, 2013 |accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> All of the TDRSS satellites have been managed by NASA's [[Goddard Space Flight Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0403tdrs20th.html |title=NASA – Top Story – TDRS 20th Anniversary – April 03, 2003 |publisher=Nasa.gov |date= |accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> The contract for TDRS versions L & K was awarded to Boeing on December 20, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2019803020071221 |title=Boeing to build NASA tracking, data relay satellites |publisher=Reuters |date=December 20, 2007 |accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> On November 30, 2011, NASA announced the decision to order an additional third-generation TDRS satellite, TDRS M.<ref name=NASA/>

The first seven TDRSS satellites were built by the [[TRW Inc.|TRW]] corporation. The three later versions have been manufactured by the [[Boeing]] corporation's [[Boeing Satellite Systems|Satellite Systems]] division. Thirteen satellites have been launched; however, one was destroyed in the [[Challenger disaster]]. TDRS-1 was decommissioned in October 2009.<ref name=T1decomm>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0910/13tdrs/ |title=Breaking News &#124; NASA retires 'queen' of tracking satellite fleet |publisher=Spaceflight Now |access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> TDRS-4 was decommissioned in December 2011. Ten TDRSS satellites are currently in service.<ref name="spacecomm">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/services/networks/tdrs_main|title=Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) &#124; NASA|date=Oct 22, 2019|publisher=Spacecomm.nasa.gov|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> All of the TDRSS satellites have been managed by NASA's [[Goddard Space Flight Center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/0403tdrs20th.html |title=NASA – Top Story – TDRS 20th Anniversary – April 03, 2003 |publisher=Nasa.gov |access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> The contract for TDRS versions L & K was awarded to Boeing on December 20, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2019803020071221 |title=Boeing to build NASA tracking, data relay satellites |publisher=Reuters |date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> On November 30, 2011, NASA announced the decision to order an additional third-generation TDRS satellite, [[TDRS-13|TDRS M]].<ref name=NASA/>

In 2022 NASA announced it would begin to phase out the TDRS system and hand off satellite relay services to commercial providers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Companies Vie to Build NASA’s Next Communications Network - IEEE Spectrum |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/nasa-new-network-tdrs |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=spectrum.ieee.org |language=en}}</ref> In 2024 it announced that while TDRS satellites would probably continue to operate for a decade or more, all new orbital missions would communicate through privately-operated satellite networks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=NASA to Embrace Commercial Sector, Fly Out Legacy Relay Fleet - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/tdrs/nasa-to-embrace-commercial-sector-fly-out-legacy-relay-fleet/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Operations==

The first tracking and data relay satellite was launched in 1983 on the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger's'']] first flight, [[STS-6]]. The Boeing-built [[Inertial Upper Stage]] that was to take the satellite from Challenger's orbit to its ultimate [[geosynchronous orbit]] suffered a failure that caused it not to deliver the TDRS to the correct orbit. As a result, it was necessary to command the satellite to use its onboard [[Reaction control system|rocket thrusters]] to move it into its correct orbit. This expenditure of fuel reduced its capability to remain in a [[geostationary]] orbit; by late 1997 the orbit had changed to the point that the satellite was able to see the South Pole, and an uplink/downlink station was installed at [[Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station]] in January 1998;<ref name=southpole>{{cite web |url=http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contentHandler.cfm?id=1742 |title=TDRS history |date=April 10, 2009}}</ref> TDRS-1 was an important communication uplink for Antarctic research until 2009.

The second tracking and data relay satellite was destroyed along with ''Challenger'' shortly after launch during the [[STS-51-L]] mission in January 1986. The next five TRW-built TDRSS satellites were successfully launched on other Space Shuttles. Three follow-up Boeing-built satellites were launched by [[Atlas rocket]]s in 2000 and 2002. A NASA Press Release<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2003/apr/HP_news_03130.html |title=NASA – Pioneer NASA Spacecraft Celebrates 20 Years of Service |publisher=Nasa.gov |access-date= |accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> summarized the capabilities of the system as a whole:

<blockquote>"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."</blockquote>

The first generation of TDRS are planned to be retired in 2015.<ref name=NASA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/nov/HQ_C11-049_TDRS.html|title=NASA Exercises Contract Option For TDRS-M Satellite Decision Will Retain Hundreds of Jobs |date=November 30, 2011|publisher=NASA|accessdateaccess-date=December 12, 2011}}</ref>

==TDRSS ground terminals==

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=== Bilateration ranging transponder system ===

The bilateration ranging [[transponder]] system (BRTS) provides tracking support for TDRS spacecraft. BRTS consists of four sites located at [[White Sands Missile Range]] (WSC), [[Guam]] (GRGT), [[Ascension Island]] (ACN), and [[Alice Springs]], Australia (ALS).<ref>Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS) Mission System Requirements Document (MSRD). Section 3.5. NASA/GSFC: November 21, 2008</ref>

==Design==

[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery at Udvar-Hazy Center.jpg|thumb|A first-generation TDRS satellite on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], placed above [[Space Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'']].]]

The communications systems of the TDRSS satellites were designed to support multiple missions at the same time. Each satellite has [[S band]], [[Ku band|K_u band]] (1st Gen only), and [[Ka band|K_a band]] (2nd gen only) electronic communication systems hardware that operate at different carrier frequencies and also support various data-rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/pdf/97440main_TDRS_fs_9.18.pdf |title= NASA Goddard TDRS Radio Frequency Systems (need Adobe Acrobat Reader)|publisher=Nasa.gov|accessdate=February 5, 2014}}</ref> The newer Boeing satellites are able to support more communications than the older TRW-built satellites.

The communications systems of the TDRSS satellites were designed to support multiple missions at the same time. Each satellite has [[S band]], [[Ku band|K_u band]] (1st Gen only), and [[Ka band|K_a band]] (2nd gen only) electronic communication systems hardware that operate at different carrier frequencies and also support various data-rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/pdf/97440main_TDRS_fs_9.18.pdf |title= NASA Goddard TDRS Radio Frequency Systems (need Adobe Acrobat Reader)|publisher=Nasa.gov|access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> The newer Boeing satellites are able to support more communications than the older TRW-built satellites.

==Different versions of the TDRS ==

: ''Section source: NASA TDRSS official site''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov/spacecomm/programs/tdrss/default.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320041300/https://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov/spacecomm/programs/tdrss/default.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |title=Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) &#124; NASA |publisher=Spacecomm.nasa.gov |date=November 13, 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

* First Generationgeneration TDRS: models A to G

* Second Generationgeneration TDRS: models H to J

* Third Generationgeneration TDRS: models K to L (M and N are planned)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tdrs-11.htm |title=TDRS 11, 12, 13 (TDRS K, L, M) |publisher=Space.skyrocket.de |access-date=August |accessdate=February 518, 20142017}}</ref>

* Launch Sitesite: [[Cape Canaveral]], United States

* Launch Vehiclevehicle: [[Space shuttleShuttle]], [[Atlas II]] or [[Atlas V]] booster

* Mass: 2108.0&nbsp;kg

* Nominal Powerpower: 1700.0 {{nbsp}}W

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible"

|-

!colspan=2 |Capability

|1st gen

|2nd gen

|3rd gen

|-

|colspan=2 style="background:#3d4;"|[[Solar panels|Solar Panels]]

|2

|2

|2

|-

|colspan=2 style="background:#f99;"|Single Access Antenna

|2

|2

|2

|-

|style="background:#f99;"|

|[[S band]]

|yes

|yes

|yes

|-

|style="background:#f99;"|

|[[Ku band]]

|yes

|yes

|yes

|-

|style="background:#f99;"|

|[[Ka band]]

|no

|yes

|yes

|-

|colspan=2 style="background:#3d4;"|Multi Access Antenna

|

|

|

|-

|style="background:#3d4;"|

|receive elements

|30

|32

|32

|-

|style="background:#3d4;"|

|transmit elements

|12

|15

|15

|-

|style="background:#3d4;"|

|[[beamforming]]

|

|on-board

|ground

|-

|style="background:#3d4;"|

|[[S band]]

|yes

|yes

|yes

|-

|colspan=2 style="background:#f99;"|Omni Antenna

|

|

|

|-

|style="background:#f99;"|

|[[S band]]

|yes

|yes

|yes

|-

|colspan=2 style="background:#3d4;"|Space-to-ground Antenna

|2.0m

|2.4m

|

|-

|style="background:#3d4;"|

|[[S band]]

|yes

|yes

|yes

|}

=== Launch history ===

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===TDRS background===

:''Source: NASA: TDRS A Satellite''<ref name=tdrsa>{{cite web|url=httphttps://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplayspacecraft/display.doaction?id=1983-026B |title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details |publisher=Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |date=August 16, 2013 |accessdateaccess-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

TDRS-A was the first of TDRSS multiple satellite tracking system. The system is a concept utilizing communication satellite technology that improves and economizes the satellite tracking and [[telemetry]] operations. The base three [[geosynchronous satellites]] (one a standby) track and receive data from satellites for relay to a ground station. The two primary active satellites are separated in orbit by at least 130 degrees longitude.

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==Gallery==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">

File:1993 s54 TDRS-F.jpg|TDRS is deployed on [[STS-54]] with [[Inertial Upper Stage|IUS booster]].

File:TDRS gen1.jpg|First-generation TDRS.

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==See also==

{{colbegin}}

{{commons category|Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System}}

* [https://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/projects/ACCESS?tab=tdrs%20fleet TDRS GSFC NASA page]

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

* [http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ TDRS GSFC NASA page]

* [[Space Communications and Navigation Program|SCaN]] Program

* [[European Data Relay System]]

* [[Luch (satellite)]]

* [[Indian Data Relay Satellite System]]

* [[Space Network]]

* [[Deep Space Network]]

* [[Near Earth Network]]

* [[Eastern Range]]

{{commons category|Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

{{colend}}

==References==

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==Notes==

* [http://tdrs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center TDRS K/L Official Page]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100827212756/http://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space-communications/sn-sne.html NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Space Network Official Page]

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090320041300/https://www.spacecomm.nasa.gov/spacecomm/programs/tdrss/default.cfm NASA's TDRSS program overview page]

* [httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20101213165433/http://boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/601/tdrs_hij/tdrs_hij.html Boeing 2nd Generation]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629103821/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/601/tdrs_kl/tdrs_kl.html Boeing 3rd Generation]

* [http://nasatech.net/ntTDRS-K_PAGE.html TDRS-K Launch and hi-res spherical panoramas of the vehicle in the clean room]

{{TDRS}}

{{GSFC}}

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[[Category:Satellites of the United States]]

[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

[[Category:Satellites by type]]