USA-94
USA-94, also known as GPS IIA-13, GPS II-22 and GPS SVN-35, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the thirteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1993-054A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 22779[1] |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned)[2] 19.6 years (achieved) |
| 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 | 30 August 1993, 12:38:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5, D222[3] |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B[3] |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Placed in a graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | 10 June 2016 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee altitude | 20,109 kilometres (12,495 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 20,257 kilometres (12,587 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 54.8 degrees[4] |
| Period | 718 minutes[4] |
USA-94 was launched at 12:38:00 UTC on 30 August 1993, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D222, 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-94 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]
On 1 October 1993, USA-94 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,109 kilometres (12,495 mi), an apogee of 20,257 kilometres (12,587 mi), a period of 718 minutes, and 54.8 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcast the PRN 30 signal, and operated in slot 4, and later 5, of plane B of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb) and a design life of 7.5 years.[2] It was initially decommissioned on 26 March 2009 and then kept as a residual satellite.[7] SVN 35 was then recalled to replace SVN 30 in the active constellation on 16 August 2011.[8][9]
It was then decommissioned again on 1 May 2013, after almost 20 years in orbit,[10] and finally placed in a disposal orbit approximately 1000 km above the operational constellation and deactivated on 10 June 2016.[11]
References
- "Navstar 2A-13". 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) 2009023". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- "NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2011062". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- "2SOPS Takes Over IIF-2, Moves to Replace SVN-30 with Spare". Inside GNSS. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- "NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2013027". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- "Obituary: Farewell to SVN-35". United States Air Force. Retrieved 23 June 2016.