Earth  ID: 11214

TDRS: The Network That Enables Exploration

Released on January 21, 2014
NASA is preparing to launch the second, in a series of three, third generation advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, known as TDRS. This latest addition to the fleet of eight, TDRS-L, will augment a space communications network that provides the critical path for high data-rate communication to the International Space Station, Hubble Space Telescope, human occupied spacecraft and a host of other spacecraft.
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In 1983, NASA launched the first of a series of new communication and navigation satellites that would rely less on international ground stations and provide continuous coverage.

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With its ever-expanding orbiting fleet of satellites and manned space flights NASA had to increase the coverage and develop an improved way to track and communicate.

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The International Space Station (ISS) routes voice and video communications along with data through the TDRS fleet.

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The Hubble Space Telescope also utilizes the full capabilities of TDRS. TDRS supports the Hubble’s real-time interactions with the ground systems allowing observers to make small adjustments to its observatory system.

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TDRS provides the Earth Observing System of satellites, such as the Aura spacecraft, with low latency data relay and navigation data.

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The TDRS network sends all of these data streams and voice communications to either the White Sands Complex in New Mexico or the Guam Remote Ground Terminal. Guam then transmits the data it receives to White Sands.

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The White Sands Complex then relays it to the end user at their mission’s operations centers.

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As long as there’s space exploration, TDRS will be working side by side with spacecraft and end-user, providing continuous connectivity for navigation, data and voice communications.

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TDRS arrives at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and is placed in a cleanroom before it is loaded on to its rocket.

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TDRS-L Launch
 

Related

Tracking Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Orbital Fleet Communicating with User Spacecraft

Credits

Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Lead Animator
Walt Feimer (HTSI): Lead Animator
Michael Lentz (USRA): Animator
Chris Meaney (HTSI): Animator
Ernie Wright (USRA): Animator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Video Editor
Heather LG Snodgrass: Narrator
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Producer
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Project Support
Cheryl Gramling (NASA/GSFC): Project Support
Stuart A. Snodgrass (HTSI): Writer
Heather LG Snodgrass: Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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Mission:
TDRS

This item is part of this series:
Narrated Movies

Goddard TV Tape:
G2014-005 -- The Network That Enables Exploration, TDRS

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> TDRS
DLESE >> Narrated
SVS >> Communications
NASA Science >> Earth