USA-126

USA-126
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1996-041A[1]
SATCAT № 23953[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 16 July 1996, 00:50:00 UTC
Rocket Delta II 7925-9.5, D237[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 20,134 kilometres (12,511 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,227 kilometres (12,568 mi)[4]
Inclination 55 degrees[4]
Period 717.9 minutes[4]

USA-126, also known as GPS IIA-17, GPS II-26 and GPS SVN-40, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the seventeenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-126 was launched at 00:50:00 UTC on 16 July 1996, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D237, 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-126 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 15 August 1996, USA-126 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,134 kilometres (12,511 mi), an apogee of 20,227 kilometres (12,568 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 55 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcasts the PRN 10 signal, and operates in slot 3 of plane E 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] however as of 2012 it remains in service.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Navstar 2A-17". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  5. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Navstar". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 10 July 2012.