TDRS-7
Introduction '''TDRS-7''', known before launch as '''TDRS-G''', is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW as a replacement for TDRS-B, which had been lost in the ''Challenger'' accident, and was the last first generation TDRS satellite to be launched.
History TDRS-7 is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites. Whilst similar to its predecessors, it differed from them slightly in that twelve G/H band (C band (IEEE)) transponders which had been included on the previous satellites were omitted. It was the last communications satellite, other than amateur radio spacecraft, to be deployed by a Space Shuttle.===Launch===The launch of STS-70, carrying TDRS-GThe TDRS-G satellite was deployed from  during the STS-70 mission in 1995. ''Discovery'' was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B at 13:41:55 UTC on 13 July 1995.TDRS-G was deployed from ''Discovery'' around six hours after launch, and was raised to geosynchronous orbit by means of an Inertial Upper Stage.===Deployment===The twin-stage solid-propellent Inertial Upper Stage made two burns. The first stage burn occurred around an hour after deployment from ''Discovery'', and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. At 02:30 UTC on 14 July 1995 it reached apogee, and the second stage fired, placing TDRS-G into geostationary orbit. At this point, it received its operational designation, TDRS-7.It was placed at a longitude 150.0° West of the Greenwich Meridian, where it underwent on-orbit testing. In May 1996, it was moved to 171.0° West where it was stored as an in-orbit spare, and subsequently entered service. In December 2003, it was relocated to 150.5° West. It arrived the next month, and was returned to storage as a reserve satellite.Location of TDRS as of 26 May 2020Location of TDRS as of 18 March 2019
See also * List of TDRS satellites
References