TDRS 8

USA

Spacecraft n°:

US spacecraft n°:

Also called TDRS H

Launch data:

Designation	26388 / 00034A
Launch date	30 Jun 2000 - 12:56 UT
Launch site	CC, SLC-36A
Launch vehicle	Atlas-2A (AC-139) - (#128)
Mission	Telecommunications
Geostationary orbit on Jul 12, 2000 (.28):
Perigee / Apogee	35619 x 35928 km
Eccentricity	0.004
Inclination	7.08 deg
Period	1435.43 min
Location	171°W

Those 3 satellites (TDRS 8, 9 & 10) are built by Hughes and made from a modified HS-601 platform. NASA required to be reimbursed for failures! Contract worth $481 million

To test from 151°W

TDRS 8: 147°W or 37.5°W, TDRS 9: 172°E

Specifications:

Prime contractor	Hughes
Platform	HS-601 modified
Mass at launch	3180 kg
Mass in orbit	1670 kg
Dry mass	1500 kg
Basic shape	Box + 2 panles + 2 antenna
Dimension	stowed: 3.4 x 3.4 x 8.4 m (8 meters with the antenna folding)
Solar array	21 m span
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	2300 W
Design lifetime	> million yers - active: 11 years

The 2 main (east-west) antennas are steerable single-access antennas that can simultaneously transmit and receive at S-band and either Ku- or Ka-band, supporting dual independent two-way communication. The selection of Ku- or Ka-band communications is done on the ground. Receive data rates are 300 megabits/second at Ku- and Ka-band, and 6 Mbps at S-band. The spacecraft carries additional capability for Ka-band receive rates of up to 800 Mbps. Transmit data rates are 25 Mbps for Ku- and Ka-band, and 300 kilobits/second for S-band. In addition, an S-band phased array antenna can receive signals from five spacecraft at once, while transmitting to one. There is no C-band on these satellites.

Telemetry: 2211.5 MHz (0.5, 1 or 4 kbps)
Telemetry: 2206.5 MHz (0.5, 1 or 4 kbps)
Telemetry: 13731 MHz
Command: 2035.96 or 2031.81 MHz (2 kbps)
Command: 14786 MHz (+ 15150 MHz)

Ref: #7, #78a, #206 - update: 17.08.08