Thu, Apr 30, 2009
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) K-L Readies For
2012-13 Launches
Boeing has completed a Preliminary
Design Review (PDR) for its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
system (TDRS) K-L program, an important design milestone as the
program moves toward integration of the TDRS K satellite for NASA.
The comprehensive five-day review was held in El Segundo in March
and attended by NASA project, program and Headquarters officials
(now tell me, does that sound like a wild and crazy bunch... or
what?--Ed.).
NASA selected Boeing in December of 2007 to built the next
generation of TDRS (Tracking & Data Relay Satellite) data relay
satellites. The TDRS-K satellite is expected to launch in 2012,
with the TDRS-L following a year later.
The PDR, which followed the successful delta integrated baseline
review completed earlier this year, is the result of a series of
monthly reviews and ongoing partnership between Boeing and NASA to
execute to plan. It included presentations on systems engineering,
program management, safety and mission assurance, the spacecraft,
the launch vehicle, the ground segment and mission operations.
"Our customer was very pleased with the results of the PDR and
recognized Boeing's commitment to the success of the TDRS program,"
said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing
Space and Intelligence Systems. "Boeing now proceeds into
implementation of the detailed design for TDRS K with NASA's full
confidence that our team is on good footing and properly baselined
to meet the technical requirements and schedule."
Boeing is on track to complete the program's Critical Design
Review in early 2010, after which spacecraft integration can
begin.
Under the contract awarded in December 2007, Boeing is
developing the next-generation K-L series of TDRS satellites to
provide NASA with communications capability between ground-based
control and data-processing facilities and Earth-orbiting
spacecraft, including the space shuttle, the Hubble Space
Telescope, the International Space Station and dozens of unmanned
scientific satellites in low Earth orbit.
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