Uncrewed spacecraftMission concluded

TDRS-3 spacecraft

Geostationary tracking and data-relay satellite

TDRS-3 spacecraft was a about 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) with deployed antennas NASA communications platform carrying s-band multiple-access array, steerable s-band and ku-band single-access antennas, telemetry, command, and station-keeping systems. Discovery deployed TDRS-C on STS-26, NASA's first Shuttle flight after Challenger. Renamed TDRS-3 in service, the satellite restored progress toward a resilient geosynchronous relay constellation.

Uncrewed spacecraft dossier

Flight profile

Launch: September 29, 1988

Vehicle record

Flights: 1 documented mission
First flight: TDRS-3
Final flight: TDRS-3
Operator: NASA Space Network
Launch vehicle: Space Shuttle Discovery
Mass: about 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) with deployed antennas
Destination
Payload: S-band multiple-access array, steerable S-band and Ku-band single-access antennas, telemetry, command, and station-keeping systems
Outcome: Successful first-generation relay mission

Sources

NASA: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Generations: TDRS-3 NASA: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Generations NASA: The TDRS Era Began During Challenger's Maiden Voyage NASA: STS-26 NASA Space Shuttle Missions Summary (TM-2011-216142)

Back to Vehicles