In-flight rescue of stranded TDRS-1 spacecraft

On April 4, 1983, the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-1), one of six to be built for SPACECOM and NASA, was launched by the Space Shuttle Challenger. During the ascent to geosynchronous orbit, the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster malfunctioned, leaving TDRS stranded in a low, elliptical orbit. This report describes the amazing satellite recovery from a wild tumble and the dramatic three-month rescue effort to move TDRS into synchronous orbit. It took a total burn time of 44 hours from a pair of tiny one-pound thrusters, about 800 pounds of propellant, an adaptable, robust attitude control system and much resourcefulness from ground operators to accomplish this feat. TDRS-1 reached its proper earth orbit on June 29, 1983 and then began its ten-year mission as a data relay satellite.