| Auto: | all |
| USA-260 | |
| Mission Type: | Navigation |
| Operator: | US Air Force |
| Cospar Id: | 2015-013A[1] |
| Satcat: | 40534 |
| Mission Duration: | 12 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft: | GPS SVN-71 (IIF-9) |
| Spacecraft Type: | GPS Block IIF |
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Launch Date: | UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | D371 |
| Launch Site: | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B |
| Launch Contractor: | ULA |
| Orbit Epoch: | 25 March 2015, 23:57:44 UTC |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric |
| Orbit Regime: | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Orbit Apoapsis: | 20468km (12,718miles) |
| Orbit Periapsis: | 20445km (12,704miles) |
| Orbit Inclination: | 55.00 degrees |
| Orbit Period: | 729.14 minutes |
| Apsis: | gee |
USA-260, also known as GPS IIF-9, GPS SVN-71 and NAVSTAR 73, is an American Satellite navigation which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the ninth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-260 was launched at 18:36 UTC on 25 March 2015, atop a Delta IV carrier rocket, flight number D370, flying in the Medium+(4,2) configuration.[2] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[3] and placed USA-260 directly into medium Earth orbit.
On 25 March 2015, USA-260 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20445km (12,704miles), an apogee of 20468km (12,718miles), a period of 729.14 minutes, and 55.00 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It is used to broadcast the PRN 26 signal, and operates in slot 5 of plane B of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a design life of 15 years and a mass of .[5] It is currently in service following commissioning on April 20, 2015.[6]