Post by glactus on Sept 3, 2011 1:01:56 GMT
The TDRS satellite
A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the 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.
TDRS 2 satellite
This system was designed to replace a pre-existing worldwide network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's 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, 22,300 miles above the surface of the Earth.
Looking at the TDRS satellite
The first seven TDRS satellites were built by the TRW corporation. The three later versions have been manufactured by the Boeing corporation's Satellite Systems division. Ten satellites have been launched; however, one was destroyed in a launch failure (the Challenger disaster).
Credits: These are non copywrite images
Text by Wikipedia
Space art by Glactus
