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.

TDRS-13

TDRS-M at the Astrotech payload processing facility
Mission type	Communications
Operator	NASA
COSPAR ID	2017-047A
SATCAT no.	42915
Mission duration	Planned: 15 years Elapsed: 4 years, 11 months, 14 days
Spacecraft properties
Bus	BSS-601HP
Manufacturer	Boeing
Launch mass	3,454 kg (7,615 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date	18 August 2017, 12:29 (2017-08-18UTC12:29) UTC[2]
Rocket	Atlas V 401
Launch site	Cape Canaveral SLC-41
Contractor	United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geosynchronous orbit

Spacecraft

TDRS-M 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.[3] 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]

Launch

In 2015, NASA contracted with United Launch Alliance to launch TDRS-M on an Atlas V 401 for $132.4 million. The spacecraft was launched on 18 August 2017 at 12:29 UTC (08:29 local time)[2] from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[4]

Damage during final closeouts

On 15 July 2017, The TDRS-M space communications satellite was damaged during the encapsulation process at Astrotech Space Operations.[5]

According to NASA's press release, "NASA and Boeing are reviewing an incident that occurred during final spacecraft closeout activities on the Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) mission at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, on July 14, involving the Omni S-band antenna."[6] This incident did result in a launch delay.[7]

See also

• List of TDRS satellites

References

На других языках

[es] TDRS-13