TDRS-12

Last updated
TDRS-12
TDRS-L Undergoes Checkouts.jpg
TDRS-L at the Astrotech payload processing facility
Mission type Communications
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 2014-004A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 39504
Mission durationPlanned: 15 years
Elapsed: 9 years, 1 month, 4 days
Spacecraft properties
Bus BSS-601HP
Manufacturer Boeing
Launch mass3,454 kg (7,615 lb) [1]
Start of mission
Launch date24 January 2014, 02:33 (2014-01-24UTC02:33)  UTC [2]
Rocket Atlas V 401
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-41
Contractor United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geosynchronous orbit
Perigee altitude 35,785 kilometers (22,236 mi) [3]
Apogee altitude 35,797 kilometers (22,243 mi) [3]
Inclination 6.77 degrees [3]
Period 1436.03 minutes [3]
Epoch 22 January 2015, 07:10:47 UTC [3]
TDRS L Project fairing logo.png  

TDRS-12, known before launch as TDRS-L, is an American communications satellite operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The twelfth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, it is the second third-generation spacecraft to be launched, following TDRS-11 in 2013. [4]

Contents

Spacecraft

TDRS-12 was constructed by Boeing, based on the BSS-601HP satellite bus. Fully fueled, it has a mass of 3,454 kg (7,615 lb), with a design life of 15 years. [1] It carries two steerable antennas capable of providing S, Ku and Ka band communications for other spacecraft, with an additional array of S-band transponders for lower-rate communications with five further satellites. [4] The satellite is powered by two solar arrays, which produce 2.8 to 3.2 kilowatts of power, while an R-4D-11-300 engine is present to provide propulsion. [1] [5]

Launch

The United Launch Alliance was contracted to launch TDRS-12. The spacecraft was launched on 24 January 2014 at 02:33 UTC (21:33 local time on 23 January). [2] An Atlas V rocket was used, flying in the 401 configuration, with tail number AV-043. [5] After launch, TDRS-12 was deployed into a high-perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit. [6] The spacecraft raised itself into a geosynchronous orbit using its onboard propulsion system.

See also

Related Research Articles

Syncom started as a 1961 NASA program for active geosynchronous communication satellites, all of which were developed and manufactured by the Space and Communications division of Hughes Aircraft Company. Syncom 2, launched in 1963, was the world's first geosynchronous communications satellite. Syncom 3, launched in 1964, was the world's first geostationary satellite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System</span> Network of American communications satellites

The U.S. Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) is a network of American communications satellites and ground stations used by NASA for space communications. The system was designed to replace an existing network of ground stations that had supported all of NASA's crewed 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. Many Tracking and Data Relay Satellites were launched in the 1980s and 1990s with the Space Shuttle and made use of the Inertial Upper Stage, a two-stage solid rocket booster developed for the shuttle. Other TDRS were launched by Atlas IIa and Atlas V rockets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luch (satellite)</span> Russian data relay system


The Luch Satellite Data Relay Network (SDRN), also referred to as Altair and Gelios, is a series of geosynchronous Russian relay satellites, used to transmit live TV images, communications and other telemetry from the Soviet/Russian space station Mir, the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) of the International Space Station and other orbital spacecraft to the Earth, in a manner similar to that of the US Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. tracking and data relay satellite</span> American communications 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, 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 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, 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the surface of the Earth.

Space Network (SN) is a NASA program that combines space and ground elements to support spacecraft communications in Earth vicinity. The SN Project Office at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) manages the SN, which consists of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-8</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-8, known before launch as TDRS-H, is an American communications satellite, of second generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by Boeing is based on the BSS-601 satellite bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-B</span> Destroyed American communications satellite

TDRS-B was an American communications satellite, of first generation, which was to have formed part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was destroyed in 1986 when the Space ShuttleChallenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-1</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-1, known before launch as TDRS-A, was an American communications satellite, operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW and launched by Space ShuttleChallenger on its maiden flight, STS-6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-5</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-5, known before launch as TDRS-E, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-3</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-3, known before launch as TDRS-C, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-6</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-6, known before launch as TDRS-F, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-7</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-7, known before launch as TDRS-G, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW as a replacement for TDRS-B, which had been lost in the Challenger accident, and was the last first generation TDRS satellite to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-9</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-9, known before launch as TDRS-I, is an American communications satellite which was operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, formerly Hughes Space and Communications, and is based on the BSS-601 satellite bus. It was the second Advanced TDRS, or second-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-10</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-10, known before launch as TDRS-J, is an American communications satellite which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by the Boeing Satellite Development Center, formerly Hughes Space and Communications, and is based on the BSS-601 satellite bus. It was the third and final Advanced TDRS, or second-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laser Communications Relay Demonstration</span> NASA payload launched in 2021

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) is a NASA mission that will test laser communication in space for extremely long distances, between Earth and geosynchronous orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-11</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-11, known before launch as TDRS-K, is an American communications satellite which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The eleventh Tracking and Data Relay Satellite is the first third-generation spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 601</span> Satellite bus

The Boeing 601 is a communications satellite bus designed in 1985 and introduced in 1987 by Hughes Space and Communications Company. The series was extremely popular in the 1990s, with more than 84 purchased by customers globally. The more advanced 601HP derivative was introduced in 1995. Hughes, and the 601 platforms, were acquired by Boeing in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-204</span> United States Space Force military communications satellite constellation

USA-204, or Wideband Global SATCOM 2 (WGS-2) is a United States military communications satellite which is operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Wideband Global SATCOM programme. Launched in 2009, it was the second WGS satellite to reach orbit, and operates in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 60° East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TDRS-13</span> American communications satellite

TDRS-13, known before launch as TDRS-M, is an American communications satellite operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The thirteenth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, it is the third and final third-generation spacecraft to be launched, following the 2014 launch of TDRS-12.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Krebs, Gunter. "TDRS K, L, M". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 "TRDS-L Lifts Off". NASA. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "TDRS-12 Satellite details 2014-004A NORAD 39504". N2YO. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 "TDRS-K Media Kit" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 Graham, William (23 January 2014). "ULA set to open 2014 campaign with Atlas V launch of TDRS-L". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  6. "TDRS-L Atlas V Mission Overview" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.