USA-293, also known as GPS-III SV02 or Magellan, is a United States navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the second GPS Block III satellite to be launched.

USA-293

Artist's rendering of GPS-III SV02 in orbit.
Names	Navstar 78 GPS-III SV02 Magellan
Mission type	Navigation
Operator	USAF
COSPAR ID	2019-056A
SATCAT no.	44506
Mission duration	15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	GPS-III SV02
Spacecraft type	GPS Block III
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Launch mass	3680 kg
Power	watts
Start of mission
Launch date	22 August 2019, 13:06 UTC
Rocket	Delta IV
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-37
Contractor	United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Medium Earth orbit (Semi-synchronous orbit)
Perigee altitude	20,157 km (12,525 mi)
Apogee altitude	20,221 km (12,565 mi)
Inclination	55.40°
Period	718.0 minutes

Satellite

SV02 is the second GPS Block III satellite to be launched. Ordered in 2008, technical delays to the first satellite in the program, SV01, pushed launch back to 2019.[1]

The spacecraft is built on the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus, and weighs in at 3,680 kg (8,110 lb).[2]

Launch

USA-293 was launched by United Launch Alliance on 22 August 2019 at 13:06 UTC atop a Delta IV Medium.[3] The launch was the final flight of the single-core Delta IV, with all subsequent flights being on the triple-core Delta IV Heavy.[4] The launch took place from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37, and deployed USA-293 directly into a semi-synchronous orbit.[4]

Orbit

As of 2021, USA-293 was in a 55.4 degree inclination orbit with a perigee of 20,157 kilometres (12,525 mi) and an apogee of 20,221 kilometres (12,565 mi).[5]

References