Artist's impression of a GPS Block IIR satellite in orbit |
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| Operator | US Air Force |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | Astro Space (satellite) Boeing IDS (LSP) |
| Bus | GPS Block IIR (AS-4000) |
| Mission type | Navigation |
| Launch date | 17 January 1997, 16:28:01 GMT |
| Carrier rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5 |
| Launch site | CCAFS LC-17A |
| Mission duration | 13 seconds (achieved) 10 years (planned) |
| Mass | 2,030 kilograms (4,500 lb) |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Failed to orbit MEO (planned) |
GPS IIR-1 or GPS SVN-42 was the first Block IIR GPS satellite to be launched. It was to have been operated as part of the United States Air Force Global Positioning System. It was launched on 17 January 1997, however it was destroyed thirteen seconds into its flight due to a malfunction of the Delta II rocket that was carrying it.[1] It was estimated to have cost US$40 million, with its carrier rocket costing $55 million.[1] The satellite which was used for the IIR-1 mission was the second production IIR satellite, SVN-42.[2]
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GPS IIR-1 was launched on a Delta II 7925-9.5 rocket, serial number D241, from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch occurred at 16:28:01 GMT (11:28 local time), on 17 January 1997.[3] Thirteen seconds later, the rocket's flight termination system was activated by its onboard computer. This detonated explosive charges aboard the rocket, causing it to explode. At the time of explosion, the rocket was 487 metres (1,598 ft) above the launch complex.
An investigation determined that the failure was caused by a crack in the casing of the number 2 GEM-40 solid rocket motor, which propagated around six seconds into the flight.[4] Twelve seconds after launch, this caused a structural failure of the booster,[5] triggering the rocket's onboard self-destruct system which destroyed the rocket one second later.
The booster had been damaged by pressure from a support in a new transportation system which had recently been introduced.[4] Following the failure, the system was revised, and ultrasound inspections of boosters on future flights were introduced.[4]
Debris from the explosion fell into the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Some debris landed around the launch pad, and a small fire started. Other debris landed in the parking lot outside the complex blockhouse, destroying twenty cars that were located there. Two hundred fifty tons of debris fell within 914 metres (2,999 ft) of the launch pad. One piece of debris made a hole in a cable track, allowing smoke to enter the blockhouse.
Residents of the area around the launch site were advised to stay indoors, close windows, and turn off air conditioning systems as a precaution, as some vapours from the fuel could be irritant or toxic. The explosion was reported to have been felt 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from the launch site, and damage to store windows 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) away was reported.
A number of Delta II launches were delayed whilst the cause of the failure was investigated and corrective action was taken. It returned to service on 5 May 1997, making the first Delta II launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base SLC-2W. The launch was successful.[6]
As of 2009, it is the only outright failure of a Delta II rocket. The only partial failure of a Delta II was the launch of Koreasat 1, where one of the solid rocket motors failed to separate, however the satellite still reached its correct orbit, using onboard propellant, which left it with a shorter than planned operational life expectancy.[7]
GPS IIR-1 was to have replaced an older satellite, which was still operational at the time of its replacement's launch. This satellite was able to continue operating until another replacement could be launched.[4]
The launch of GPS IIR-1 was the last to use the Complex 17 blockhouse, with future launches being controlled from a Launch Control Center in the 1st Space Launch Squadron Operations Building, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of the pad.[8] This was already under construction at the time of the failure, as the blockhouse was unable to support the Delta III rocket, which was then under development. Following the failure, construction on the new control facilities was accelerated.[9]
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