USA-96
USA-96, also known as GPS IIA-14, GPS II-23 and GPS SVN-34, is an American navigation satellite which is part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1993-068A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 22877[1] |
| Mission duration | 7 1⁄2 years (planned) 26 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 | 26 October 1993, 17:04:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5, D223[3] |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B[3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee altitude | 20,104 kilometres (12,492 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 20,260 kilometres (12,590 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 55 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.96 minutes[4] |
USA-96 was launched at 17:04:00 UTC on 26 October 1993, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D223, 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-96 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]
On 25 November 1993, USA-96 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,104 kilometres (12,492 mi), an apogee of 20,260 kilometres (12,590 mi), a period of 717.96 minutes, and 55 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcast the PRN 04 signal, and operated in slot 4 of plane D of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite has a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years.[2] It was temporarily removed from the GPS constellation on 2 November 2015.[7] From 20 March 2018 the satellite was operational again, broadcasting the PRN 18 signal, from slot 6 of Plane D,[8] until 9 October 2019, when it was permanently retired.[9]
References
- "Navstar 2A-14". 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 GPS Users". NAVCEN. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- "Notice Advisory to GPS Users". www.navcen.uscg.gov. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
- "Notice Advisory to GPS Users". www.navcen.uscg.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-28.