USA-201 explained

USA-201
Mission Type:Navigation
Operator:US Air Force
Cospar Id:2008-012A[1]
Satcat:32711
Mission Duration:10 years (planned)
Spacecraft Type:GPS Block IIRM
Spacecraft Bus:AS-4000
Manufacturer:Lockheed Martin
Launch Date: UTC
Launch Rocket: D332
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral SLC-17A
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Orbit Periapsis:20143km (12,516miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:20222km (12,565miles)
Orbit Inclination:55.1 degrees
Orbit Period:717.98 minutes
Apsis:gee

USA-201, also known as GPS IIR-19(M), GPS IIRM-6 and GPS SVN-48, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the sixth of eight Block IIRM satellites to be launched, and the nineteenth of twenty one Block IIR satellites overall. It was built by Lockheed Martin, using the AS-4000 satellite bus.

USA-201 was launched at 06:10 UTC on 15 March 2008, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D332, 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-201 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.[4]

By 18 May 2008, USA-201 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20143km (12,516miles), an apogee of 20222km (12,565miles), a period of 717.98 minutes, and 55.1 degrees of inclination to the equator.[5] It is used to broadcast the PRN 07 signal, and operates in slot 4 of plane A of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a design life of 10 years and a mass of .[4] As of 2012 it remains in service.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Navstar 62. 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-2RM (Navstar-2RM). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 11 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Satellite Catalog. Jonathan's Space Page. Jonathan. McDowell. 11 July 2012.