---
title: "Astronomy Photo of the Day: 01/31/13 – TDRS-K spacecraft launch"
description: "[caption id=\"attachment_692\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"412\"] This launch was captured by NASA/Glenn Bens[/caption] This is the graceful arc of a rocket trail. This particular trail is from the Atlas V 401 rocket that took the first of three next-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K—which is so close to \"TARDIS\" I had to point it out!) into..."
date: "2013-01-31"
modified: "2013-01-31"
authors:
  - name: "Joshua Filmer"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/joshuafqtq"
url: "https://futurism.com/apod-013113-tdrs-k-spacecraft-launch"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Astronomy Photo of the Day: 01/31/13 – TDRS-K spacecraft launch

![Default Futurism featured image](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Futurism-Filler-Image.jpg>)

[![TDRS-K spacecraft launch](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TDRS-K-spacecraft-launch.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TDRS-K-spacecraft-launch.jpg>)
*This launch was captured by NASA/[Glenn Bens](<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2439.html#.Ujj7QMasiSo>)*

This is the graceful arc of a rocket trail. This particular trail is from the Atlas V 401 rocket that took the first of three next-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K—which is so close to "TARDIS" I had to point it out!) into orbit yesterday. In case the name didn’t already give it away, the satellites provide NASA with "tracking, telemetry, command, and high-bandwidth data return services" according to a [NASA press release](<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2435.html#.UvEjCvldUkM>).

## Author
Joshua specializes in Mathematics and Physics at Portland State University.