USA-38

USA-38, also known as GPS II-2 and GPS SVN-13, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the second of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-38
Mission typeNavigation
OperatorUS Air Force
COSPAR ID1989-044A
SATCAT no.20061
Mission duration7.5 years (planned)[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeGPS Block II[1]
ManufacturerRockwell[1]
Launch mass840 kilograms (1,850 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date10 June 1989, 22:19 (1989-06-10UTC22:19Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 6925,[3] D185[3]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17A[3]
End of mission
Deactivated12 May 2004 (2004-05-13)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMedium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee altitude19,967 kilometres (12,407 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude20,395 kilometres (12,673 mi)[4]
Inclination54.5 degrees[4]
Period717.92 minutes[4]
 

USA-38 was launched at 22:19 UTC on 10 June 1989, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D185, flying in the 6925 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-38 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[1]

On 11 July 1989, USA-38 was in an orbit with a perigee of 19,967 kilometres (12,407 mi), an apogee of 20,395 kilometres (12,673 mi), a period of 717.92 minutes, and 54.5 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It operated in slot 3 of plane B of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 840 kilograms (1,850 lb), and generated 710 watts of power.[2] It had a design life of 7.5 years,[1] and ceased operations on 12 May 2004.

References
  1. Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2 (Navstar-2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. "Navstar 2-02". US National Space Science Data Center. 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. "NAVSTAR GPS - Summary". Space and Tech. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.


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