USA-96

USA-96
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1993-068A[1]
SATCAT no. 22877[1]
Mission duration still in Service (since 24 years)
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 (1993-10-26UTC17:04Z) 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 20,104 kilometres (12,492 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,260 kilometres (12,590 mi)[4]
Inclination 55 degrees[4]
Period 717.96 minutes[4]

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.

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] and is still in service, being temporarily removed on 2 November 2015 from the GPS constellation until March 2018.[7]

Since 20 March 2018 the satellite is operational again and is broadcasting the PRN 18 signal, operating in slot 6 of Plane D.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Navstar 2A-14". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  7. ↑ "Notice Advisory to GPS Users". NAVCEN. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Notice Advisory to GPS Users". www.navcen.uscg.gov. Retrieved 2018-03-31.


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