USA-150 explained

USA-150
Names List:Navstar 47
GPS IIR-4
GPS SVN-51
Mission Type:Navigation
Operator:U.S. Air Force
Cospar Id:2000-025A [1]
Satcat:26360
Mission Duration:10 years (planned)
Spacecraft:GPS II-R
Spacecraft Type:GPS Block IIR
Spacecraft Bus:AS-4000
Manufacturer:Lockheed Martin
Launch Date:11 May 2000, 01:48:00 UTC
Launch Rocket:Delta II 7925-9.5
(Delta D278)
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral, SLC-17A
Launch Contractor:McDonnell Douglas
Entered Service:11 June 2000
Deactivated:Operational [2]
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit
Orbit Regime:Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
Orbit Slot:E-1
Orbit Inclination:54.9°
Orbit Period:718.02 minutes
Apsis:gee

USA-150, also known as GPS IIR-4 and GPS SVN-51, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourth Block IIR GPS satellite to be launched, out of thirteen in the original configuration, and twenty one overall. It was built by Lockheed Martin, using the AS-4000 satellite bus.

Launch

USA-150 was launched at 01:48:00 UTC on 11 May 2000, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D278, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[4] and placed USA-150 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.[5]

Mission

By 11 June 2000, USA-150 was in an orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, a period of 718.02 minutes, and 54.9° of inclination to the equator.[6] It is used to broadcast the PRN 20 signal, and operates in slot 1 of plane E of the GPS constellation, having replaced USA-35, the first operational GPS satellite.[7] The satellite has a mass of, and a design life of 10 years.[5] As of 2012 it remains in service.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Navstar 47 2000-025A. NASA. 14 May 2020. 20 November 2020.
  2. Web site: NGA Current GPS Satellite Data. 24 September 2011.
  3. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan's Space Page. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Launch List. Jonathan's Space Page. Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012. 15 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040340/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html. dead.
  5. Web site: GPS-2R (Navstar-2R). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 11 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Satellite Catalog. Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012.
  7. Web site: Navstar. https://web.archive.org/web/20021111162023/http://www.astronautix.com/project/navstar.htm. dead. 11 November 2002. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Mark. Wade. 11 July 2012.