Data Relay Program(s) Status

The Data Relay Satellites Systems of the three agencies are entitled:

* The term Data Relay Satellite (DRS) is used as a generic descriptor

NASA

NASA has 6 Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) providing S-band and Ku-band communications and data services.

  1. TDRS-1, Located at 49 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-Spare)
  2. TDRS-3, Located at 275 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-ZOE)
  3. TDRS-4, Located at 41 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-East)
  4. TDRS-5, Located at 174 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-West)
  5. TDRS-6, Located at 46 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-Spare)
  6. TDRS-7, Located at 171 degrees West Longitude (TDRS-Spare)

NASA plans to launch TDRS H, I, J in the post 1997 time frame and these TDRS’s will provide S-Band, Ku-Band, and Ka-Band services.

TDRSS Data Flow

TDRSS Configuration

TDRSS Zone of Exclusion

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NASDA

NASDA will have 3 Data Relay and Test Satellites (DRTS) providing S-band, Ka-Band, and and data services.

  1. COMETS (a DRTS Prototype), Located at 121 degrees East Longitude
  2. DRTS-1, Located at 90 degrees East Longitude (DRTS1-West)
  3. DRTS-2, Located at 170 degrees West Longitude (DRTS2-East)

<< Insert NASDA SN Configuration Diagram>>

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ESA

ESA will have 1 Data Relay Satellites (DRS) initially and potentially 2 additional in the post 2000 time period providing S-band, Ka-band, and optical communications and data services.

  1. ARTEMIS (a DRS Prototype), Located at 6 degrees - 19 degrees East Longitude
  2. DRS-1, Located at 59 degrees East Longitude (DRS1-East)
  3. DRS-2, Located at 44 degrees West Longitude (DRS2-West)
<< Insert ESA SN Configuration Diagram>

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