TDRS-M Needs Repairs
NASA TDRS-M Status Update July 20, 2017
“NASA and Boeing are reviewing plans to safely replace an antenna on the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M). The satellite’s Omni S-band antenna was damaged during spacecraft closeout activities July 14 at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida. The TDRS team is also evaluating a possible electrostatic discharge event involving spacecraft mechanical ground support equipment at the launch site.”
The question is, who pays for this? Since it is Boeing providing the satellite assume this is a cost plus contract so NASA (aka taxpayers) will pay for this. If this was a commercial satellite for Intelsat or say SES you can bet Boeing would be eating this cost.
TDRS-K/L/M was a firm fixed price contract IIRC…
I believe that the word that we’re looking for here is “D’oh!”
Seriously, this is actually a real problem. Other launches are already being pushed back to give TDRS-M a priority for the next East Coast launch.
Which of the antennas is the “Omni S-band antenna” and what company manufactured it?
One of my first screw ups in Aerospace was accidentally melting some plastic screws on an X-Band patch antenna on Mars Global Surveyor. They pulled a spare out of stores put it on the spacecraft and we moved on. Total down time ONE DAY. They can MAKE a huge deal out of it or they can replace it and move on. The only way it gets dragged out is that SOMEONE expects a big payday out of the incident (or heaven forbid, they don’t have a spare).
I dunno if this really warrants as news for NASAWatch: An issue happened during integration, they are seeing if they can fix it, potentially the launch date will move…happens everyday.