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STS-43 Onboard Photograph -
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| Name of Image |
STS-43 Onboard Photograph - TDRS-E |
| Date of Image |
1991-08-01 |
| Full Description |
The free-flying Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-E (TDRS-E), still attached to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), was photographed by one of the crewmembers during the STS-43 mission. The TDRS-E was boosted by the IUS into geosynchronous orbit and positioned to remain stationary 22,400 miles above the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. The TDRS system provides almost uninterrupted communications with Earth-orbiting Shuttles and satellites, and had replaced the intermittent coverage provided by globe-encircling ground tracking stations used during the early space program. The TDRS can transmit and receive data, and track a user spacecraft in a low Earth orbit. The IUS is an unmarned transportation system designed to ferry payloads from low Earth orbit to higher orbits that are unattainable by the Shuttle. The Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis for the STS-43 mission was launched on August 2, 1991. |
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STS-43 Onboard Photograph -
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| Name of Image |
STS-43 Onboard Photograph - TDRS-E |
| Date of Image |
1991-08-01 |
| Full Description |
The primary payload of the STS-43 mission, Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-E (TDRS-E) attached to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) was photographed at the moment of its release from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis. The TDRS-E was boosted by the IUS into geosynchronous orbit and positioned to remain stationary 22,400 miles above the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. The TDRS system provides almost uninterrupted communications with Earth-orbiting Shuttles and satellites, and had replaced the intermittent coverage provided by globe-encircling ground tracking stations used during the early space program. The TDRS can transmit and receive data, and track a user spacecraft in a low Earth orbit. The IUS is an unmarned transportation system designed to ferry payloads from low Earth orbit to higher orbits that are unattainable by the Shuttle. The launch of STS-43 occurred on August 2, 1991. |
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Artist concept of the STS-43
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| Title |
Artist concept of the STS-43 Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) |
| Description |
Artist concept shows the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) augmenting a sophisticated TDRS system (TDRSS) communications network after deployment during STS-43 from Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. TDRS, built by TRW, will be placed in a geosynchronous orbit and after onorbit testing, which requires several weeks, will be designated TDRS-5. The communications satellite will replace TDRS-3 at 174 degrees West longitude. The backbone of NASA's space-to-ground communications, the TDRSs have increased NASA's ability to send and receive data to spacecraft in low-earth orbit to more than 85 percent of the time. Before TDRS, NASA relied solely on a system of ground stations that permitted communications only 15 percent of the time. Increased coverage has allowed onorbit repairs, live television broadcast from space and continuous dialogues between astronaut crews and ground control during critical periods such as Space Shuttle landings. |
| Date |
06.22.1990 |
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -
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| Description |
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Space Shuttle Atlantis breaks free from the confines of Earth as it soars towards space to begin its scheduled nine-day mission. The 11:02 a.m. EDT liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was at the opening of hte launch window. The five-member crew will conduct a variety of activities, including the primary objective of deploying the fourth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E). Crew members are Mission Commander John E. Blaha, Pilot Michael E. Baker, and Mission Specialists Shannon W. Lucid, James C. Adamson and G. David Low. |
| Release Date |
08/02/1991 |
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Artist concept of the STS-43
…
| Title |
Artist concept of the STS-43 Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) |
| Description |
Artist concept shows the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) augmenting a sophisticated TDRS system (TDRSS) communications network after deployment during STS-43 from Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. TDRS, built by TRW, will be placed in a geosynchronous orbit and after onorbit testing, which requires several weeks, will be designated TDRS-5. The communications satellite will replace TDRS-3 at 174 degrees West longitude. The backbone of NASA's space-to-ground communications, the TDRSs have increased NASA's ability to send and receive data to spacecraft in low-earth orbit to more than 85 percent of the time. Before TDRS, NASA relied solely on a system of ground stations that permitted communications only 15 percent of the time. Increased coverage has allowed onorbit repairs, live television broadcast from space and continuous dialogues between astronaut crews and ground control during critical periods such as Space Shuttle landings. |
| Date Taken |
1990-06-22 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E is framed in O
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E is framed in OV-104's aft window during deployment |
| Description |
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E), framed in aft flight deck viewing window W9, is raised by the aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table to its deployment position in the payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. The Earth's limb is barely visible in the background. |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E and IUS over t
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E and IUS over the Pacific Ocean after deployment from OV-104's PLB |
| Description |
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) and Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) combination is silhouetted over the cloud-covered Pacific Ocean shortly after deployment from Atlantis', Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104's, payload bay (PLB) during the STS-43 mission. OV-104 leaves TDRS-E/IUS behind as it begins its separation maneuvers. |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E and IUS over t
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E and IUS over the Pacific Ocean after deployment from OV-104's PLB |
| Description |
The Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) interstage and first stage solid rocket motor nozzle are backdropped against an interesting cloud pattern over the Pacific Ocean shortly after deployment from Atlantis', Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104's, payload bay (PLB) during the STS-43 mission. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E's (TDRS-E's) stowed solar array panels are barely visible on top of the IUS. OV-104 leaves TDRS-E/IUS behind as it begins its separation maneuvers. |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS is deplo
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS is deployed from OV-104's payload bay (PLB) |
| Description |
During STS-43, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E), atop the inertial upper stage (IUS) and raised to a 58-degree deployment position in the airborne support equipment (ASE) aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table with the forward frame ASE latch actuator released and umbilical cables separated, is released by a spring-loaded ejection system and a Super*zip ordnance separation device from Atlantis', Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104's, payload bay (PLB). TDRS-E/IUS combination rises above OV-104's PLB at approximately 0.4 foot per second. The scene is highlighted against the Earth's limb and the cloud-covered Pacific Ocean below. In the foreground on the port side and mounted on a getaway special (GAS) adapter beam are (forward to aft) the two Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) GAS canisters (one with motorized door assembly (MDA)) and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) GAS canister. Along the starboard sill longeron is the Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS is deplo
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS is deployed from OV-104's payload bay (PLB) |
| Description |
During STS-43, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E), atop the inertial upper stage (IUS), rises above Atlantis', Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104's, payload bay (PLB) at the rate of approximately 0.4 foot per second. The IUS is highlighted against the Earth's limb and the cloud-covered Pacific Ocean. Left behind in the PLB are the airborne support equipment (ASE) forward frame, the ASE umbilical, and the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table (at 58-degree deployment position). TDRS-E/IUS was released by a spring-loaded ejection system and a Super*zip ordnance separation device on Orbit 5. In the foreground on the port side and mounted on a getaway special (GAS) adapter beam are (forward to aft) the two Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) GAS canisters (one with motorized door assembly (MDA)) and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) GAS canister. Along the starboard sill longeron is the Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Element II (SHARE-II). |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS in OV-10
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| Title |
STS-43 TDRS-E / IUS in OV-104's PLB ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table |
| Description |
During STS-43 the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite E (TDRS-E) atop the inertial upper stage (IUS) and positioned in the airborne support equipment (ASE) aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table with the forward frame ASE latch actuator released and umbilical cables separated is raised by the aft frame ASE electromechanical tilt actuator to a 58-degree deployment position. The scene is highlighted against the Earth's limb. In the foreground on the port side and mounted on a getaway special (GAS) adapter beam are (forward to aft) the two Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) GAS canisters (one with motorized door assembly (MDA)) and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) GAS canister. Along the starboard sill longeron is the Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Element II (SHARE-II). |
| Date Taken |
1991-08-11 |
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