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GENERAL DYNAMICS / L3HARRIS

TDRSS Transponder

CommunicationsRelay Satellite Transponder● Active
MASS
5 kg
POWER
60 W
REDUNDANCY
Dual-string
RAD HARDENED
Yes
FIRST USE
Apr 1983

TDRSS Transponder is a communications system manufactured by General Dynamics / L3Harris. It features dual-string redundancy. Radiation hardened for space environments.

ABOUT TDRSS TRANSPONDER

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System transponder enables high-bandwidth communications between spacecraft and ground through NASA geostationary relay satellites. It provides near-continuous coverage for LEO vehicles, eliminating dependence on ground station overflight. TDRSS is critical for ISS and Hubble operations.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

S-band and Ku/Ka-band transponder communicates through TDRS geostationary relay constellation for near-global LEO coverage

VEHICLES USING THIS SYSTEM
ISSHubble Space TelescopeSpace Shuttle (historical)Various LEO spacecraft
SPECIFICATIONS
CATEGORYCommunications
TYPERelay Satellite Transponder
MANUFACTURERGeneral Dynamics / L3Harris
MASS5 kg
POWER CONSUMPTION60 W
REDUNDANCYDual-string
RADIATION HARDENEDYes
ACCURACYN/A
FIRST USEApril 4, 1983
STATUSActive
DETAILED SPECS
BANDSS-band + Ku/Ka-band
MAX_DATA_RATE_MBPS300
COVERAGENear-continuous LEO
RELAY_CONSTELLATION9 TDRS satellites

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