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]

TDRS-12

TDRS-L at the Astrotech payload processing facility
Mission type	Communications
Operator	NASA
COSPAR ID	2014-004A
SATCAT no.	39504
Mission duration	Planned: 15 years Elapsed: 8 years, 4 months, 15 days
Spacecraft properties
Bus	BSS-601HP
Manufacturer	Boeing
Launch mass	3,454 kg (7,615 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	24 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]

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.

Gallery

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  Location of TDRS as of 22 May 2020
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  Location of TDRS as of March 2019

See also

• List of TDRS satellites

References

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