NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-H. or TDRS-H. launched aboard an Atlas IIA rocket at 8:56 pm Eastern Time on
June 30. 2000. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Fla.
TDRS-H is the first in a series of three advanced Tracking and Data Relay satellites that
provide high data-rate support to the International Space Station and Space Shuttle.
One of the major enhancements for this TDRS group is the ability to provide high data-rate
support to the ISS and Space Shuttle with high-resolution digital television.
The trio can also relay enormous volumes of data at rates
thousands of times faster than the standard home computer.