It was constructed by TRW as a replacement for TDRS-B, which had been lost in the Challenger accident, and was the last first generation TDRS satellite to be launched.

[5] TDRS-G was deployed from Discovery around six hours after launch, and was raised to geosynchronous orbit by means of an Inertial Upper Stage.

The first stage burn occurred around an hour after deployment from Discovery, and placed the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

At 02:30 UTC on 14 July 1995 it reached apogee, and the second stage fired, placing TDRS-G into geostationary orbit.

In May 1996, it was moved to 171.0° West where it was stored as an in-orbit spare, and subsequently entered service.