Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) is a communication signal relay system, developed by NASA, that relays data to ground stations and tracks satellites in orbit. The system provides tracking and data acquisition services between low Earth orbiting spacecraft and NASA or other ground data processing facilities. The system can transmit to and receive data from customer spacecraft over 100% of their orbit.

  There are currently seven on-orbit satellites located in geosynchronous orbit that comprise the system, each called a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). Data flows in two directions. The TDRS receives data from the ground and transmits it to other on-orbit satellites. It also receives data from the on-orbit satellites that it transmits to stations on the ground located near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System

Credits - NASA