USA-309, also known as GPS-III SV04 or Sacagawea, is a United States navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourth GPS Block III satellite to be launched.[1]

USA-309

Artist's rendering of GPS-III SV04 in orbit
Names	Navstar 80 GPS-III SV04 Sacagawea
Mission type	Navigation
Operator	USSF
COSPAR ID	2020-078A
SATCAT no.	46826
Mission duration	15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	GPS-III SV04
Spacecraft type	GPS Block III
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Launch mass	4311 kg
Power	watts
Start of mission
Launch date	5 November 2020, 23:24 UTC
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-40
Contractor	SpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Medium Earth orbit (Semi-synchronous orbit)
Perigee altitude	20,181 km (12,540 mi)
Apogee altitude	20,196 km (12,549 mi)
Inclination	54.9°
Period	718.0 minutes

Satellite

SV04 is the fourth GPS Block III satellite to be launched. Launch was pushed back several times due to delays with the earlier satellites.[2]

The spacecraft is built on the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus, and weighs in at 3,880 kg (8,550 lb).[3]

Launch

USA-309 was launched by SpaceX on 5th of November 2020 at 23:24 UTC atop Falcon 9 booster B1062.[4] The launch took place from SLC-40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-309 directly into semi-synchronous orbit. About eight minutes after launch, Falcon 9 B1062 successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.[1]

Orbit

As of 2021, USA-309 was in a 54.9 degree inclination orbit with a perigee of 20,181 kilometers (12,540 mi) and an apogee of 20,198 km (12,550 mi).[5]

References