Space Brief 27 Dec 2025
Today's Space Brief covers a notable satellite deployment in LEO, a leadership shift in Blue Origin's defense wing, and ongoing recovery efforts for NASA's MAVEN orbiter.
TDRS 3 (19548)
COSPAR: 1988-091B | Alt Name: TDRS 3
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
September 29, 1988
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC39B
Launch Vehicle
Space Shuttle
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
19548
International Designator
1988-091B
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:50:05 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
12.59°
Right Ascension
340.89°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
356.39°
Period
1436.15 min
Mean Motion
1.00 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
TDRS 3
Alternative Name
TDRS 3
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
GSFC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 19548U 88091B 26184.78479036 -.00000290 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 19548 12.5892 340.8876 0037000 356.3922 178.1318 1.00267797125558
Source: Celestrak
Summary
TDRS 3 is a communication and data relay satellite launched on September 29, 1988, from Launch Complex 39B at AFETR usi
ng the Space Shuttle as the launch vehicle. The spacecraft has dimensions of 1.3 meters in length, 2.4 meters in diameter
, and a span of 17.4 meters. It was designed to have a lifetime of 10 years and is shaped like a box with dishes and two
pans. TDRS 3 has a dry mass of 1673 kg and a launch mass of 2103 kg, and its primary equipment includes multiple Ku-ban
d and S-band TWTAs for various communication purposes. The satellite is powered by deployable solar arrays and batteries
and was manufactured by TRW for the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).
Physical Characteristics
Length
1.3
Diameter
2.4
Span
17.4
Dry Mass
1673
Launch Mass
2103
Shape
Box + Dish + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
38.9782
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
TDRS C
Purpose
Communication, data relay
Mission
Communication, data relay
Manufacturer
TRW
Life Expectancy
10 years (design)
Bus
TDRS
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
AOCS
Equipment
4 (+2) 25W Ku-band TWTAs for LP (linearly polarized) zone coverage 2 (+2) 1.5W Ku-band TWTAs for CP (circularly polarized) spot coverage 2 (+4) 25W Ku-band TWTAs for LP zone coverage 2 (+2) 1.5W Ku-band TWTAs for CP spot coverage 12 5W TWTAs for LP C-Band up/down 2 (+2) 26W S-band SSPAs (used for intersatellite links) 8 (+4) 3.5W S-band SSPAs (used for intersatellite links)
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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