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Thirty years ago, NASA launched into a new era of high bandwidth, continuous space communication with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS...
Music
Today, NASA is continuing this legacy by launching the first of the next generation of satellites, TDRS-K.
(countdown 10, 9 ..)
At Cape Canaveral, the TDRS-K spacecraft sits
(countdown 8, 7, 6 ...)
atop an Atlas 5 rocket ready for launch...
(countdown 5. 4. 3 ...)
(countdown 2, 1, and)
(countdown LIFT OFF! of the Atlas 5 rocket carrying)
(the next generation of Tracking and Data Relay)
(Satellites - TDRS-K)
After a 4-minute burn the Atlas 5 main engine separates from the Centaur engine, and drops back to Earth. Shortly after separation of the main engine, the protective shield that covers the payload, called the fairing, separates to reveal the TDRS-K spacecraft.
After boosting the spacecraft to geosynchronous transfer orbit, the TDRS spacecraft separates from the Centaur engine. Shortly after this separation, the two folded Single Access antenna reflectors are released to take their natural parabolic shape.
Over the next 11 days, through a series of engine firings the TDRS on board rocket guides the spacecraft to its final location in geosynchronous orbit.
Once arriving at this orbit, the spacecraft starts its deployment sequence by unfolding the first solar array.
Next, the two single access antennas are deployed and locked into position. These antennas are designed to track and communicate with low-Earth orbit satellites.
After the single access antennas are secured into place, the second solar array starts to unfold and the SGL and Omni antennas are deployed.
Once TDRS-K completes this deployment sequence, its now ready for a 3 month period of testing calibration before being placed into service.
With this addition of TDRS-K and the upcoming launches of TDRS-L and M, NASA has assured the future of continuous Space to Ground Communication.
Beep Beep Beep