USA-79

USA-79, also known as GPS IIA-3, GPS II-12 and GPS SVN-25, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the third of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-79
Mission typeNavigation
OperatorUS Air Force
COSPAR ID1992-009A[1]
SATCAT no.21890[1]
Mission duration7.5 years (planned)[2]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeGPS Block IIA[2]
ManufacturerRockwell[2]
Launch mass1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date23 February 1992, 22:29:00 (1992-02-23UTC22:29Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-9.5,[3] D207[3]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B[3]
End of mission
Deactivated18 December 2009 (2009-12-19)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMedium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee altitude20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi)[4]
Inclination54.7 degrees[4]
Period717.9 minutes[4]
 

USA-79 was launched at 22:29:00 UTC on 23 February 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D207, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-79 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 27 March 1992, USA-79 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi), an apogee of 20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It had PRN 25, and operated in slot 2 of plane A of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[2] and ceased operations on 18 December 2009.

References
  1. "Navstar 2A-03". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  4. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  6. Wade, Mark. "Navstar". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 10 July 2012.


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