USA-87

USA-87, also known as GPS IIA-8, GPS II-17 and GPS SVN-29, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-87
Mission typeNavigation
OperatorUS Air Force
COSPAR ID1992-089A[1]
SATCAT no.22275[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 date18 December 1992, 22:16:00 (1992-12-18UTC22:16Z) UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-9.5, D217[3]
Launch siteCape Canaveral LC-17B[3]
End of mission
Deactivated23 October 2007 (2007-10-24)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeMedium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee altitude20,037 kilometres (12,450 mi)[4]
Apogee altitude20,326 kilometres (12,630 mi)[4]
Inclination54.7 degrees[4]
Period717.94 minutes[4]
 

USA-87 was launched at 22:16:00 UTC on 18 December 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D217, 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-87 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 25 January 1993, USA-87 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,037 kilometres (12,450 mi), an apogee of 20,326 kilometres (12,630 mi), a period of 717.94 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It had PRN 29, and operated in slot 5 of plane F 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 23 October 2007.

References
  1. "Navstar 2A-08". 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.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.