NASA’s TDRSS-I Satellite Reaches Geosynchronous Orbit

After a challenging seven-month planning and recovery
effort led by Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, Calif.,
the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-I (TDRS-I) reached
geosynchronous orbit Sept. 30 early in the morning. The
recovery effort was prompted when one of the two fuel tanks
aboard the satellite did not properly pressurize shortly
after its March 8 launch.

“This amazing milestone was achieved through the dedication
and extensive personal sacrifices of the Boeing/NASA TDRS-I
mission recovery team,” said Robert Jenkens Jr., TDRS Project
Manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
“These talented and innovative individuals were able to
collectively overcome many significant obstacles along the
way,” he added.

“Despite what initially appeared to be an impossible
challenge, the team was able to achieve a geosynchronous
orbit and demonstrate Boeing’s commitment to the success of
NASA’s TDRS-H, -I, -J Program,” said Jenkens. “Looking ahead,
we now have to complete the appendage-deployment phase and
conduct on-orbit testing to evaluate the state of health and
performance of the satellite,” he said.

The TDRS fleet provides continuous, high-data-rate
communication with the Space Shuttle, the International Space
Station and dozens of unmanned scientific satellites,
including the Hubble Space Telescope, in low-earth orbit.

Source: NASA

Related Links

• 21 March 2002: Boeing Statement on Status of TDRS-I Satellite
• 8 March 2002: TDRS-I Satellite Safely Reaches Orbit