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.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.nasa.gov