USA-128
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1996-056A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 24320[1] |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned)[2] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA[2] |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell[2] |
| Launch mass | 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 September 1996, 08:49:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5, D238[3] |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee altitude | 20,058 kilometres (12,463 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 20,305 kilometres (12,617 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 54.7 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.94 minutes[4] |
USA-128, also known as GPS IIA-18, GPS II-27 and GPS SVN-30, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-128 was launched at 08:49:00 UTC on 12 September 1996, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D238, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-128 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]
On 17 October 1996, USA-128 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,058 kilometres (12,463 mi), an apogee of 20,305 kilometres (12,617 mi), a period of 717.94 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcasts the PRN 30 signal, and operates in slot 2 of plane B of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite has a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[2] and was decommissioned on July 20, 2011.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Navstar 2A-18". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Navstar". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "NANU 2011-048". Celestrak. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
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