Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

'Quite a Feeling of Being Alone': 25 Years Since Endeavour's Vanilla-to-Chocolate STS-54 Mission

By Ben Evans, on January 14th, 2018

The base of the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), carrying the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, departs Endeavour on 13 January 1993. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Twenty-five years ago, this week, the crew of STS-54 settled into orbit for one of the shortest shuttle missions of the decade, tasked with deploying the fifth […]

After Four Month Hiatus, ULA Returns to Flight With Early-Morning TDRS-M Launch

By Ben Evans, on August 18th, 2017

After four months on the ground, United Launch Alliance (ULA) returns to flight on Friday, 18 August, delivering NASA’s latest Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) to orbit. Photo Credit: Alan Walters/AmericaSpace

United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully delivered the latest member of NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) into Geostationary Transfer Orbit […]

NASA Space Communications Operations to Extend Through 2030, With Friday Launch of TDRS-M

By Ben Evans, on August 15th, 2017

Originally scheduled to launch on 3 August, NASA’s next Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) will now launch on 18 August, atop an Atlas V 401 booster. Photo: AmericaSpace / Jeff Seibert

More than 30 years since its maiden launch—and having enabled near-continuous communications traffic between dozens of Space Shuttle and International Space Station […]

Lost Innocence: Remembering the Sacrifice of the Challenger Seven (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on January 28th, 2017

The infamous image, flashed around the world on 28 January 1986, immediately after Challenger’s tragic destruction. The disaster stalled the shuttle program for almost three years. Photo Credit: NASA

Thirty-one years ago, today, on 28 January 1986, one of the worst and most public disasters in U.S. space history unfolded with horrifying suddenness in […]

'What a Lucky Person I Am': 25 Years Since STS-43 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on August 14th, 2016

The STS-43 consisted of (from left) David Low, Shannon Lucid, Jim Adamson, John Blaha, and Mike Baker. Theirs was the fifth-longest shuttle mission in history at the time. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

A quarter-century has now passed since five astronauts roared into orbit to complete the fifth-longest space shuttle mission at that […]

'Putting Your Thinking Hat On': 25 Years Since STS-43 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on August 13th, 2016

Atlantis roars into the late morning Florida sky on 2 August 1991, 25 years ago this month. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Twenty-five years ago, this month, Space Shuttle Atlantis flew a mission which harked back to the past and set in place a cornerstone to enable the exploration of the future. […]

'Major Malfunction': The Final Launch of Challenger, 28 Years Ago Today

By Ben Evans, on January 28th, 2015

Challenger’s final crew, as they should be remembered: positive and brilliant individuals, happily striving to explore space and further humanity’s reach into the Universe. In the back row (left to right) are Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, and Judy Resnik. In the front row (left to right) are Mike Smith, Dick […]

'Moderately Complex': The Mission That 51L Should Have Been

By Ben Evans, on January 31st, 2014

Members of the 51L crew during training. From left are Ellison Onizuka, Ron McNair, Greg Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Christa McAuliffe (seated on table), and backup crew member Barbara Morgan. Photo Credit: NASA

Twenty-eight years passed on Tuesday since one of the worst and most public disasters ever witnessed in the U.S. human […]

PHOTOS: Atlas-V Lights Up Florida Space Coast to Deliver NASA's TDRS-L Satellite

By Mike Killian, on January 26th, 2014

The rotation of the Earth captured in the trails of the stars over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station last Thursday night. NASA’s latest Tracking & Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-L, is seen here hitching a fiery ride to orbit atop an Atlas-V rocket, as viewed from the Turn Basin on Kennedy Space Center just a […]

Atlas V Lights Up Florida Night Sky With Rousing Launch of TDRS-L

By Ben Evans, on January 24th, 2014

Awe-inspiring perspective of Earth’s rotation, captured in the trail of stars over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during Thursday night’s launch of TDRS-L. Photo Credit: Mike Killian Photography/AmericaSpace

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully accomplished the first of what it hopes will be a record-setting 15 missions for 2014, with the spectacular liftoff of […]

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