NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-J. TDRS-J. successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Florida.
on December 4th. 2002. at 9:42 p.m. Eastern time aboard an Atlas IIA rocket.
NASA Commentator: "one,and we have main engine ignition, and liftoff of NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.
completing the constellation of a new generation of space communication satellites."
TDRS-J is the third in a series of three advanced satellites that provide researchers
with images and high-resolution digital television from several NASA missions.
including Hubble and the Space Shuttle. among others.
This second-generation TDRS has replenished the original six TDRS.
which provided reliable communications support since the 1980's.