The TDRS-K spacecraft stands inside a processing hangar in Titusville, Fla., awaiting packaging for launch into orbit 22,300 miles above Earth.
An artist concept of the TDRS-K spacecraft in orbit with its assortment of antennas and a pair of solar arrays to provide electricity.
Technicians inspect the payload fairing placed over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Technicians move the second half of the payload fairing into place over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, stands inside one half of the payload fairing as the spacecraft is encapsulated inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, stands inside one half of the payload fairing as the spacecraft is encapsulated inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
Technicians move one half of the payload fairing into place over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, is being checked out prior to being encapsulated in the nose faring. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
In the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the payload faring for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, has been checked out and awaits the arrival of the TDRS-K. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
Technicians who moved one half of the payload fairing into place over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, pose inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
Technicians move one half of the payload fairing into place over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
A closer look at the logo painted on one half of the payload fairing that will protect NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
ASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, stands positioned between two pieces that make up the payload fairing that will protect the spacecraft during launch and ascent into space. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
Technicians move one half of the payload fairing into place over NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-K, inside the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This image was released Jan. 16, 2013.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is rolled to the pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation to launch NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K).
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is rolled to the pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation to launch NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K).
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is rolled to the pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation to launch NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K).
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is rolled to the pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation to launch NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K).
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-41 with NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-K) payload. Launch is set for Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8:48 p.m. EST.
NASA established the TDRS project in 1973 to provide around-the-clock and around-the-Earth communications for the network that routes voice calls, telemetry streams and television signals from the International Space Station, as well as other orbiting spacecraft.
