USA-87

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USA-87
A Block IIS GPS satellite
A Block IIA GPS satellite
Operator US Air Force
Major contractors Rockwell[1]
Bus GPS Block IIA[1]
Mission type Navigation
Launch date 18 December 1992, 22:16:00 (1992-12-18UTC22:16Z) UTC
Carrier rocket Delta II 7925-9.5 D217[2]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17B[2]
Mission duration 7.5 years (planned)[1]
Ceased operations 23 October 2007
COSPAR ID 1992-089A[3]
SATCAT 22275[3]
Mass 1,816 kilograms (4,000 lb)[1]
Orbital elements
Regime Semisynchronous medium Earth
Inclination 54.7°[4]
Apoapsis 20,326 kilometres (12,630 mi)[4]
Periapsis 20,037 kilometres (12,450 mi)[4]
Orbital period 717.94 minutes[4]

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 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.[2] 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.[1]

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 (4,000 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[1] and ceased operations on 23 October 2007.

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  3. ^ a b "Navstar 2A-08". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012. 
  4. ^ a b c d e 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.