SPACE TUGS & THE SPACE STATION
Notes:
One of the Science & Applications Manned Space Platform's most important missions was to serve as a “space harbor” for missions to geostationary orbit, where most communications satellites are located. Large satellites would be delivered to SAMSP from Earth by the Space Shuttle for final assembly and checkout. An Orbital Transfer Vehicle or space tug would then transport the satellite to geostationary orbit. The space tug would be permanently based at the space station in low Earth orbit.
NASA/Johnson also regarded the space tug as an integral component of its Space Operations Center plan. This Boeing illustration from 1982 depicts a space tug being serviced inside its hangar onboard SOC.
