USA-117

USA-117
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1996-019A[1]
SATCAT № 23833[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 28 March 1996, 00:21:00 (1996-03-28UTC00:21Z) UTC
Rocket Delta II 7925-9.5, D234[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17B[3]
End of mission
Disposal Placed in a graveyard orbit
Deactivated 2 August 2014, 22:00:00 (2014-08-02UTC23Z) UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 20,080 kilometres (12,480 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,284 kilometres (12,604 mi)[4]
Inclination 54.7 degrees[4]
Period 717.96 minutes[4]

USA-117, also known as GPS IIA-16, GPS II-25 and GPS SVN-33, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the sixteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-117 was launched at 00:21:00 UTC on 28 March 1996, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D234, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-117 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 27 April 1996, USA-117 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,080 kilometres (12,480 mi), an apogee of 20,284 kilometres (12,604 mi), a period of 717.96 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcasts the PRN 03 signal, and operates in slot 2 of plane C 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, it actually remained in service until August 2, 2014.

It was subsequently disposed of and currently resides in a disposal orbit approximately 500km above the operational constellation.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Navstar 2A-16". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  7. "N2YO.com". Retrieved 18 July 2015.


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