USA-151 explained

USA-151
Mission Type:Navigation
Operator:US Air Force
Cospar Id:2000-040A[1]
Satcat:26407
Mission Duration:10 years (planned)

(in progress)
Spacecraft Type:GPS Block IIR
Spacecraft Bus:AS-4000
Manufacturer:Lockheed Martin
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket: D279
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral SLC-17A
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Orbit Inclination:55 degrees
Orbit Period:722.98 minutes
Apsis:gee

USA-151, also known as GPS IIR-5, GPS SVN-44, and Navstar-48 is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifth 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.

USA-151 was launched at 09:17:00 UTC on 16 July 2000, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D279, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[2] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[3] and placed USA-151 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.[4]

By 27 July 2000, USA-151 was in an orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, a period of 722.98 minutes, and 55 degrees of inclination to the equator.[5] It is used to broadcast the PRN 28 signal, and operates in slot 3 of plane B of the GPS constellation, having originally been operated in slot 5.[6] The satellite has a mass of, and a design life of 10 years.[4]

It was originally retired on 23 June 2021.[7] On 14 Aug 2023, it was reactivated to replace SVN-63.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Navstar 48. US National Space Science Data Center. 11 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan's Space Page. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012.
  3. 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.
  4. Web site: GPS-2R (Navstar-2R). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 11 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Satellite Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Navstar. https://web.archive.org/web/20021111162023/http://www.astronautix.com/project/navstar.htm. dead. November 11, 2002. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Mark. Wade. 11 July 2012.
  7. Web site: 2021 Advisories. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928123323/https://gps.afspc.af.mil/GPSOC/ViewAdvisories.aspx. live. September 28, 2021. 1 July 2022.
  8. Web site: CGSIC Bulletin: GPS Constellation Change: SVN-63 - the American Surveyor . 10 August 2023 .