USA-91

USA-91
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 1993-032A[1]
SATCAT № 22657[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 13 May 1993, 00:07:00 (1993-05-13UTC00:07Z) UTC
Rocket Delta II 7925-9.5, D220[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral LC-17A[3]
End of mission
Disposal Placed in a graveyard orbit
Deactivated 18 March 2016 (2016-03-19)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 20,033 kilometres (12,448 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,327 kilometres (12,631 mi)[4]
Inclination 54.9 degrees[4]
Period 717.88 minutes[4]

USA-91, also known as GPS IIA-11, GPS II-20 and GPS SVN-37, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eleventh of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-91 was launched at 00:07:00 UTC on 13 May 1993, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D220, 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-91 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]

On 14 June 1993, USA-91 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,033 kilometres (12,448 mi), an apogee of 20,327 kilometres (12,631 mi), a period of 717.88 minutes, and 54.9 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It broadcast signal PRN 07, and operated in slot 4 of plane C of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[2] and ceased operations on 20 December 2007.

Following decommissioning, it was kept as a reserve satellite. It was finally put in a disposal orbit approximately 1000km above the operational constellation on March 18, 2016.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Navstar 2A-11". 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 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.
  7. "50 SW to dispose of two GPS satellites". United States Air Force. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
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