Atlas 2A Successfully Launches NASA TDRS H

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Atlas 2A Successfully Launches NASA TDRS H

More Information:

A Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A (AC-139) rocket carrying NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS H) launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station pad 36A at 5:56 a.m. PDT (1256 UTC) June 30. The TDRS H, I and J satellites are based on Hughes HS-601 satellite bus. The satellite will be positioned at 150 degrees West longitude for testing and checkout. Its operational orbital slot will be 171 degrees West at which time it will be renamed TDRS 8. TDRS satellites are used by NASA to maintain continuous communication capability with space shuttle missions, space station and up to 35 science satellites.

The satellite was launched into a parking orbit with an apogee of 578 km (312 nmi), perigee of 167 km (90 nmi) and inclination of 28.3 degrees. The spacecraft was released into a deployment orbit with an apogee of 30,777 km (16,240 nmi), perigee of 222 km (120 nmi) and inclination of 27.0 degrees.

Satellite mass at lift-off was 3180 kg (7011 lbm) and on orbit launch mass will be 1778 kg (3918 lbm). The satellite receive data rates are 300 megabits/second (Mbps) at Ku- and Ka-band, and 6 Mbps at S band. The Ka-band can receive at rates of up to 800 Mbps. Transmit data rates are 25 Mbps for Ku- and Ka-band, and 300 kilobits/second (Kbps) for S-band. In addition, S-band phased array antenna can receive signals from five spacecraft at once, while transmitting to one. The satellite has a design life of eleven years, and an expected end-of-life power of 2.300 kW. A nickel-hydrogen battery supplies payload power during eclipses.

NASA plans to launch TDRS-I in 2002, with TDRS-J to follow in 2003.

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June 30, 2000