| TDRS-6 | |
| Mission Type: | Communication |
| Operator: | NASA |
| Cospar Id: | 1993-003B |
| Satcat: | 22314 |
| Mission Duration: | Planned: 10 years Elapsed: |
| Spacecraft Bus: | TDRS |
| Manufacturer: | TRW |
| Launch Mass: | 2108kg (4,647lb)[1] |
| Dimensions: | 17.3xx |
| Power: | 1700 watts |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Site: | Kennedy Space Center LC-39B |
| Launch Contractor: | Rockwell International |
| Orbit Epoch: | 14 January 1993 [2] |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary |
| Orbit Longitude: | 46.0° West (1994–1996) 47.0° West (1996–2005) 174.0° West (2005–) |
| Apsis: | gee |
TDRS-6, known before launch as TDRS-F, is an American communications satellite, of first generation, which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.[3]
TDRS-F was deployed from during the STS-54 mission in 1993. Endeavour was launched from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, at 13:59:30 UTC on 13 January 1993.[4] TDRS-F was deployed from Endeavour around six hours after launch, and was raised to geosynchronous orbit by means of an Inertial Upper Stage.[4]
The two-stage solid-propellent Inertial Upper Stage made two burns. The first stage burn occurred shortly after deployment from Endeavour, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). At 02:26 UTC on 14 January 1993, it reached apogee, and the second stage fired, placing TDRS-F into geosynchronous orbit.[5] At this point, it received its operational designation, TDRS-6.
In 1994, it was placed at a longitude 46.0° West of the Greenwich Meridian, to serve as an on-orbit spare.[6] In 1996, it was moved to 47.0° West, where it remained until 2005, when it was repositioned to 174.0° West,[6] where,, it was used to provide communications with spacecraft in Earth orbit, such as the International Space Station (ISS) and spacecraft bringing astronauts to the ISS.