USA-242, also known as GPS IIF-4, GPS IIF SV-5 and Vega,[3] is an American navigation satellite which was launched in May 2013. The fourth Block IIF GPS satellite, it will form part of the Global Positioning System.
USA-242 is a 1,630-kilogram (3,600 lb) spacecraft, built by Boeing with a design life of 15 years.[1] It will operate from a semi-synchronous medium Earth orbit, at an altitude of 20,459 kilometres (12,713 mi) an an inclination of 55 degrees,[2] in slot 2 of plane C of the GPS constellation.[4] The new satellite will replace the seventeen-year-old USA-117 satellite, which will be kept operational as a backup satellite.[5] USA-242 is expected to broadcast its navigation signals using the PRN-27 signal modulation.
United Launch Alliance conducted the launch of GPS IIF-4, using an Atlas V 401 carrier rocket. Launch took place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with liftoff occurring at 21:38 UTC on 15 May 2013, the beginning of an 18-minute launch window. The launch marked the first time since 1985 that a GPS satellite had launched on an Atlas rocket, or indeed any rocket other than a Delta.[5]
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Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in (brackets).
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