USA-63

USA-63
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1990-068A
SATCAT no. 20724
Mission duration 7.5 years (planned)[1]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type GPS Block II[1]
Manufacturer Rockwell[1]
Launch mass 840 kilograms (1,850 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date 2 August 1990, 05:39:00 (1990-08-02UTC05:39Z) UTC
Rocket Delta II 6925,[3] D197[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3]
End of mission
Deactivated 27 January 2003 (2003-01-28)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 19,932 kilometres (12,385 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,433 kilometres (12,696 mi)[4]
Inclination 54.7 degrees[4]
Period 718 minutes[4]

USA-63, also known as GPS II-8 and GPS SVN-21, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to fly.

USA-63 was launched at 05:39:00 UTC on 2 August 1990, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D197, flying in the 6925 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-63 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[1]

On 3 September 1990, USA-63 was in an orbit with a perigee of 19,932 kilometres (12,385 mi), an apogee of 20,433 kilometres (12,696 mi), a period of 718 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It operated in slot 2 of plane E of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 840 kilograms (1,850 lb), and generated 710 watts of power.[2] It had a design life of 7.5 years,[1] and ceased operations on 27 January 2003.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2 (Navstar-2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Navstar 2-08". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 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.


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