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Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Completes Critical End-of-Mission Operations for TDRS-10

artist concept of third-generation TDRS satellite
NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, or TDRS, provide communications services to many NASA spacecraft. These satellites form a global constellation capable of relaying data between spacecraft and ground stations on Earth. Credit: NASA

On August 13, 2024, NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) successfully completed a challenging end-of-mission campaign for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-10), marking the culmination of several weeks of intricate orbital maneuvers and fuel depletion operations.

The complex mission required the entire FDF TDRS team to execute multiple precision maneuvers while coordinating closely with the White Sands Complex (WSC). The operation involved sophisticated orbit determination calculations and continuous updates to maneuvering plans as the satellite’s fuel reserves were systematically depleted.

The successful completion was achieved through the combined efforts of FDF and WSC personnel, whose diligence and professionalism ensured safe and controlled end-of-mission operations.

End-of-mission campaigns represent some of the most technically demanding phases of satellite operations, requiring precise fuel management and orbital adjustments to ensure spacecraft are safely positioned as their operational lives conclude. The TDRS constellation plays a vital role in NASA’s communications infrastructure, making these careful transitions essential for maintaining network integrity.

TDRS-10 launched on December 5th, 2002, aboard an Atlas-IIA rocket, both supported by the FDF. Since launch, the FDF has been the navigation caretaker of the spacecraft performing initial checkouts, relocations, navigation certifications for users, and end-of-life. The successful completion of TDRS-10’s end-of-mission operations demonstrates NASA’s continued leadership in satellite operations and orbital mechanics, ensuring responsible space operations as missions reach their planned conclusions.