August 1983 – Landsat-4 Became First Customer for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)

Landsat-4 became the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite’s (TDRS) first customer. Within a year of its July 1982 launch, Landsat-4 lost the use of two of its solar panels and downlink transmitters. When TDRS came online, Landsat-4 was able to transmit data using its Ku-band transmitter to TDRS and then the ground stations. Landsat-4 was decommissioned in 2001.

› Landsat Program› SCaN History of the 1980’s