USA-135

USA-135
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1997-067A[1]
SATCAT № 25030[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 6 November 1997, 00:30:00 (1997-11-06UTC00:30Z) UTC
Rocket Delta II 7925-9.5, D249[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3]
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 19,912 kilometres (12,373 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,449 kilometres (12,706 mi)[4]
Inclination 54.9 degrees[4]
Period 717.9 minutes[4]

USA-135, also known as GPS IIA-19, GPS II-28 and GPS SVN-38, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the last of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-135 was launched at 00:30:00 UTC on 6 November 1997, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D249, 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-135 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 13 December 1997, USA-135 was in an orbit with a perigee of 19,912 kilometres (12,373 mi), an apogee of 20,449 kilometres (12,706 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.9 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcasts the PRN 08 signal, and operates in slot 3 of plane A 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] but it actually remained in service until October 30, 2014.

References

  1. 1 2 "Navstar 2A-19". 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.


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