<p>NASA today launched a new communication satellite to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images.<br /><br /></p>.<p>An unmanned Atlas V rocket blasted into the starry night sky carrying the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.<br /><br />This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be launched by NASA. The space agency uses the orbiting network to communicate with astronauts living on the International Space Station.<br /><br />The first TDRS spacecraft flew in 1983; it recently was retired along with No. 4. The second was lost aboard space shuttle Challenger in 1986; Monday marked the 27th anniversary of the launch disaster.<br /><br />This newest third-generation TDRS carries the letter K designation. Once it begins working, it will become TDRS-11. It will take two weeks for the satellite to reach its intended 22,300-mile-high orbit. Testing will last a few months.<br /><br />NASA estimates the satellite costs between USD 350 million and USD 400 million. Another TDRS spacecraft, L in the series, will be launched next year.<br /><br />NASA wants at least seven TDRS satellites working in orbit at any one time. The one launched today will make eight.</p>
<p>NASA today launched a new communication satellite to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images.<br /><br /></p>.<p>An unmanned Atlas V rocket blasted into the starry night sky carrying the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.<br /><br />This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be launched by NASA. The space agency uses the orbiting network to communicate with astronauts living on the International Space Station.<br /><br />The first TDRS spacecraft flew in 1983; it recently was retired along with No. 4. The second was lost aboard space shuttle Challenger in 1986; Monday marked the 27th anniversary of the launch disaster.<br /><br />This newest third-generation TDRS carries the letter K designation. Once it begins working, it will become TDRS-11. It will take two weeks for the satellite to reach its intended 22,300-mile-high orbit. Testing will last a few months.<br /><br />NASA estimates the satellite costs between USD 350 million and USD 400 million. Another TDRS spacecraft, L in the series, will be launched next year.<br /><br />NASA wants at least seven TDRS satellites working in orbit at any one time. The one launched today will make eight.</p>