mercredi 30 janvier 2013

TDRS-K Heads for Space Aboard Atlas V














ULA - TDRS-K / Atlas V Launch poster / NASA - TDRS-K Satellite Mission patch.

Jan. 30, 2013


Image above: The Atlas V rocket with the TDRS-K spacecraft aboard at the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA.

Liftoff for TDRS-K

NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System will get an upgrade as the agency launched the first of a new generation of communications satellites at 8:48 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral.

Atlas V Rocket and TDRS-K satellite payload description

The TDRS system provides a critical communications link to Earth for the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and many satellites.

Close-up Views of TDRS-K Launch

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite project, known as TDRS, provides follow-on and replacement spacecraft necessary to maintain and expand the NASA Space Network. TDRS-K, as the newest satellite is called, launched Jan. 30. TDRS-K is the first of three next-generation satellites designed to ensure vital operational continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the fleet.

 TDRS-K Satellite System

Each of the new satellites has a higher performance solar panel design to provide more spacecraft power. This upgrade will return signal processing for the S-Band multiple access service to the ground -- the same as the first-generation TDRS spacecraft. Ground-based processing allows TDRS to service more customers with different and evolving communication requirements.

For more information about Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-K), visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdrs/index.html

Images, Text, Video, Credits: NASA / ULA / NASA TV.

Cheers, Orbiter.ch