tdrss

Mission objective was to deploy the TDRS-B communication satellite, cancelled due to IUS failure. Most of the crew would be reassigned to STS-51-D which flew in April 1985 (except for Patrick Baudry, who was re-assigned to STS-51-G which flew in June 1985).

This version of the TDRS-B patch is not a silk patch but was woven. Acquired from the estate of a TRW employee. 

TDRS-6, known before launch as TDRS-F, is an American communications satellite which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

TDRS-3 , known before launch as TDRS-C, is an American communications satellite which is operated by NASA as part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. It was constructed by TRW, and is based on a custom satellite bus which was used for all seven first generation TDRS satellites.

The TDRS-C satellite was launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-26R mission in 1988; the first Shuttle flight since the Challenger accident which had resulted in the loss of the previous TDRS satellite, TDRS-B. Discovery launched from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center at 15:37:00 GMT on 29 September 1988. TDRS-C was deployed from Discovery around six hours after launch, and was raised to geostationary orbit by means of an Inertial Upper Stage.

TRW Space and Technology Group in Redondo Beach, CA, is the prime spacecraft contractor. Ground operations at the White Sands complex are conducted by Contel Federal Systems and Bendix Field Engineering.

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system represents a new era in tracking Earth-orbiting spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle, and transmitting their data back to Earth. The TDRS concept was conceived following early 1970s studies which showed that a system of orbiting telecommunications satellites, operated from a single ground terminal link, could more effectively support Space Shuttle, scientific and other NASA mission requirements than the nearly 25-year-old tracking and communications network of ground stations located worldwide.

This version differs from another patch for this payload.

The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system represents a new era in tracking Earth-orbiting spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle, and transmitting their data back to Earth. The TDRS concept was conceived following early 1970s studies which showed that a system of orbiting telecommunications satellites, operated from a single ground terminal link, could more effectively support Space Shuttle, scientific and other NASA mission requirements than the nearly 25-year-old tracking and communications network of ground stations located worldwide. Flight 1 was launched April 5, 1983 during STS-6 (Challenger).
TDRS-1 was shut down by NASA June 27, 2010.