USA-71
USA-71, also known as GPS IIA-2, GPS II-11 and GPS SVN-24, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the second of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1991-047A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 21552[1] |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned)[2] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA[2] |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell[2] |
| Launch mass | 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 4 July 1991, 02:32:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5,[3] D206[3] |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee altitude | 20,085 kilometres (12,480 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 20,274 kilometres (12,598 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 55.1 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.86 minutes[4] |
USA-71 was launched at 02:32:00 UTC on 4 July 1991, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D206, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The rocket launched from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-71 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]
On 14 August 1991, USA-71 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,085 kilometres (12,480 mi), an apogee of 20,274 kilometres (12,598 mi), a period of 717.86 minutes, and 55.1 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It has PRN 24, and operated in slot 1 of plane D of the GPS constellation[6] until it was removed from service in September 2009. It was subsequently relocated, was operational again, briefly covering slot 2 in 2011, before being deactivated in November after USA-232 replaced it. It began transmitting navigation signals again in March 2012; however, it is not currently part of the operational GPS constellation.[7] The satellite has a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb), and a design life of 7.5 years.[2]
References
- "Navstar 2A-02". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- Wade, Mark. "Navstar". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- "NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2012018". US Air Force. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2012.