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.[3]
![]() TDRS-F being deployed from Endeavour | |
Mission type | Communication |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1993-003B ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 22314 |
Mission duration | Planned: 10 years Elapsed: 29 years, 5 months, 20 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | TDRS |
Manufacturer | TRW |
Launch mass | 2,108 kg (4,647 lb)[1] |
Dimensions | 17.3 × 14.2 m (57 × 47 ft) |
Power | 1700 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 13 January 1993, 13:59:30 (1993-01-13UTC13:59:30) UTC |
Rocket | Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-54 / IUS |
Launch site | Kennedy Space Center LC-39B |
Contractor | Rockwell International |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Geostationary |
Longitude | 46.0° West (1994–1996) 47.0° West (1996–2005) 174.0° West (2005–) |
Epoch | 14 January 1993 [2] |
TDRS-F was deployed from Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-54 mission in 1993. Endeavour was launched from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, at 13:59:30 UTC on 13 January 1993.[4] TDRS-F was deployed from Endeavour around six hours after launch, and was raised to geosynchronous orbit by means of an Inertial Upper Stage.[4]
The two-stage solid-propellent Inertial Upper Stage made two burns. The first stage burn occurred shortly after deployment from Endeavour, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). At 02:26 UTC on 14 January 1993, it reached apogee, and the second stage fired, placing TDRS-F into geosynchronous orbit.[5] At this point, it received its operational designation, TDRS-6.
In 1994, it was placed at a longitude 46.0° West of the Greenwich Meridian, to serve as an on-orbit spare.[6] In 1996, it was moved to 47.0° West, where it remained until 2005, when it was repositioned to 174.0° West,[6] where, as of August 2009[update], it was used to provide communications with spacecraft in Earth orbit, such as the International Space Station (ISS) and spacecraft bringing astronauts to the ISS.
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System | ||
---|---|---|
| ||
First generation | ||
Second generation | ||
Third generation | ||
|
← 1992 · Orbital launches in 1993 · 1994 → | |
---|---|
Kosmos 2230 | Molniya 1-85 | STS-54 (TDRS-6) | Kosmos 2231 | Soyuz TM-16 | Kosmos 2232 | USA-88 | Kosmos 2233 | SCD-1 · Orbcomm CDS-1 | Kosmos 2234 · Kosmos 2235 · Kosmos 2236 | Asuka | Progress M-16 | Gran' No.42L | EKA-1 | UFO F-1 | Kosmos 2237 | USA-90 · SEDS-1 | Kosmos 2238 | Progress M-17 | Kosmos 2239 | Kosmos 2240 | Kosmos 2241 | STS-56 (SPARTAN 201) | Kosmos 2242 | Molniya-3 No.57 | ALEXIS · Orbcomm CDS-2 | STS-55 | Kosmos 2243 | Kosmos 2244 | Kosmos 2245 · Kosmos 2246 · Kosmos 2247 · Kosmos 2248 · Kosmos 2249 · Kosmos 2250 | Astra 1C · Arsene | USA-91 | Resurs-F2 No.9 | Progress M-18 | Molniya-1T No.81 | Gorizont No.39L | Kosmos 2251 | STS-57 | Kosmos 2252 · Kosmos 2253 · Kosmos 2254 · Kosmos 2255 · Kosmos 2256 · Kosmos 2257 | Galaxy 4 | Resurs-F1 No.57 | Radcal | USA-92 · PMG | Soyuz TM-17 | Kosmos 2258 | Kosmos 2259 | USA-93 | Kosmos 2260 | Hispasat 1B · INSAT-2B | Unnamed · Unnamed · Unnamed · SLDCOM-3 | Molniya-3 No.58 | NOAA-13 | Kosmos 2261 | Progress M-19 | Resurs-F1 No.56 | USA-94 | Meteor-2 No.24 · Temisat | USA-95 | Kosmos 2262 | STS-51 (ACTS · ORFEUS-SPAS) | Kosmos 2263 | Kosmos 2264 | IRS-P1 | SPOT-3 · Stella · KITSAT-2 · Itamsat · Eyesat-1 · PoSAT-1 · Healthsat-2 | Gran' 41L | Landsat 6 | FSW-15 | Progress M-20 | STS-58 | Intelsat 701 | Kosmos 2265 | USA-96 | Gorizont No.40L | Kosmos 2266 | Kosmos 2267 | Gorizont No.41L | Solidaridad 2 · Meteosat 6 | USA-97 | STS-61 | USA-98 | Telstar 401 | DirecTV-1 · Thaicom 1 | Molniya 1-87 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |