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.
Names | Navstar 2A-08 GPS IIA-8 GPS II-17 GPS SVN-29 |
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Mission type | Navigation |
Operator | U.S. Air Force |
COSPAR ID | 1992-089A [1] |
SATCAT no. | 22275 |
Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned) 14.75 years (achieved) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | GPS IIA |
Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA[2] |
Manufacturer | Rockwell International |
Launch mass | 840 kg (1,850 lb) |
Dimensions | 5.3 m (17 ft) of long |
Power | 710 watts |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 18 December 1992, 22:16:00 UTC |
Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5 (Delta D217) |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17B |
Contractor | McDonnell Douglas |
Entered service | 25 January 1993 |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
Deactivated | 23 October 2007 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[3] |
Regime | Medium Earth orbit (Semi-synchronous) |
Slot | F5 (slot 5 plane F) |
Perigee altitude | 20,137 km (12,513 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 20,541 km (12,764 mi) |
Inclination | 54.74° |
Period | 720.00 minutes |
Global Positioning System |
Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide all-weather round-the-clock navigation capabilities for military ground, sea, and air forces. Since its implementation, GPS has also become an integral asset in numerous civilian applications and industries around the globe, including recreational used (e.g., boating, aircraft, hiking), corporate vehicle fleet tracking, and surveying. GPS employs 24 spacecraft in 20,200 km circular orbits inclined at 55.0°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane.[1]
GPS Block 2 was the operational system, following the demonstration system composed of Block 1 (Navstar 1 - 11) spacecraft. These spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts of power. They used S-band (SGLS) communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. The payload consisted of two L-band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 Cesium clocks and nuclear detonation detection sensors. Built by Rockwell Space Systems for the U.S. Air force, the spacecraft measured 5.3 m across with solar panels deployed and had a design life of 7.5 years.[1]
USA-87 was launched at 22:16:00 UTC on 18 December 1992, atop a Delta II launch vehicle, flight number D217, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[4] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B (LC-17B) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),[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 20,137 km (12,513 mi), an apogee of 20,541 km (12,764 mi), a period of 720.00 minutes, and 54.74° of inclination to the equator.[3] It had PRN 29, and operated in slot 5 of plane F of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 840 kg (1,850 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[2] and ceased operations on 23 October 2007.
NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellites | |
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List of GPS satellites | |
Block I | |
Block II | |
Block IIA | |
Block IIR | |
Block IIRM | |
Block IIF | |
Block III | |
Block IIIF |
|
Italics indicate future missions. Signs † indicate launch failures. |
← 1991 · Orbital launches in 1992 · 1993 → | |
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Kosmos 2175 | STS-42 | Kosmos 2176 | Progress M-11 | Kosmos 2177 · Kosmos 2178 · Kosmos 2179 | Unnamed | USA-78 | Fuyo 1 | Kosmos 2180 | USA-79 | Superbird B1 · Arabsat 1C | Molniya 1-83 | Kosmos 2181 | Galaxy 5 | Soyuz TM-14 | STS-45 | Kosmos 2182 | Gorizont No.36L | Kosmos 2183 | USA-80 | Kosmos 2184 | Telecom 2B · Inmarsat-2 F4 | Progress M-12 | USA-81 | Resurs-F2 No.8 | Kosmos 2185 | STS-49 | Palapa B4 | SROSS-C | Kosmos 2186 | Kosmos 2187 · Kosmos 2188 · Kosmos 2189 · Kosmos 2190 · Kosmos 2191 · Kosmos 2192 · Kosmos 2193 · Kosmos 2194 | EUVE | Intelsat K | Resurs-F1 No.55 | STS-50 | Progress M-13 | Kosmos 2195 | USA-82 | SAMPEX | USA-83 | Kosmos 2196 | INSAT-2A · Eutelsat-2 F4 | Kosmos 2197 · Kosmos 2198 · Kosmos 2199 · Kosmos 2200 · Kosmos 2201 · Kosmos 2202 | Gorizont No.37L | Geotail · DUVE | Kosmos 2203 | Soyuz TM-15 | Kosmos 2204 · Kosmos 2205 · Kosmos 2206 | Kosmos 2207 | STS-46 (EURECA · TSS-1) | Molniya 1-84 | FSW-13 | TOPEX/Poseidon · Uribyol 1 · S80/T | Kosmos 2208 | Optus B1 | Progress M-14 | Resurs-F1 No.54 · Pion-Germes 1 · Pion-Germes 2 | Galaxy 1R | Satcom C4 | USA-84 | Kosmos 2209 | Hispasat 1A · Satcom C3 | STS-47 | Kosmos 2210 | Mars Observer | FSW-14 · Freja | Foton No.8L | DFS-Kopernikus 3 | Molniya-3 No.50 | Kosmos 2211 · Kosmos 2212 · Kosmos 2213 · Kosmos 2214 · Kosmos 2215 · Kosmos 2216 | Kosmos 2217 | STS-52 (LAGEOS-2 · CTA) | Progress M-15 (Znamya-2) | Galaxy 7 | Kosmos 2218 | Ekran-M No.15L | Resurs 500 | Kosmos 2219 | Kosmos 2220 | MSTI-1 | USA-85 | Kosmos 2221 | Kosmos 2222 | Gorizont No.38L | USA-86 | Superbird A1 | Molniya-3 No.56 | STS-53 (USA-89 · ODERACS) | Kosmos 2223 | Kosmos 2224 | USA-87 | Optus B2 | Kosmos 2226 | Kosmos 2225 | Kosmos 2227 | Kosmos 2228 | Kosmos 2229 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets. |