3
$\begingroup$

According to Wikipedia:

TDRS-M, to be renamed TDRS-13 upon entry into service, is an American communications satellite operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. The thirteenth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, it is the third and final third-generation spacecraft to be launched, following the 2014 launch of TDRS-L. (emphasis added)

In this answer I've suggested that this may have come to pass, as it is named TDRS-13 in the TLE I downloaded today from Celestrak.

However, it does not show up in thier Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) option on Celestrak's NORAD Two-Line Element Sets Current Data TLE page, on which only the following spacecraft which have TDRS in their name are found:

TDRS 3, TDRS 5, TDRS 6, TDRS 7, TDRS 8, TDRS 9, TDRS 10, TDRS 11, TDRS 12

Has TDRS-13 officially entered into service?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

Yes, "NASA has begun operating it" as of Feb. 15th.

Following its August launch and a five-month period of in-orbit testing, the third-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS), referred to as TDRS-M until this important milestone, was renamed TDRS-13, becoming the tenth operational satellite in the geosynchronous, space-based fleet.

source

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the speedy confirmation. I've updated that answer to reflect the good news. $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Mar 28, 2018 at 14:34

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.