USA-47 explained

USA-47
Names List:Navstar 2-04
GPS II-4
GPS SVN-19
Mission Type:Navigation
Operator:U.S. Air Force
Cospar Id:1989-085A
Satcat:20302
Mission Duration:7.5 years (planned)
11.5 years (achieved)
Spacecraft:GPS II
Spacecraft Type:GPS Block II
Manufacturer:Rockwell International
Dimensions:5.3 m (17 ft) of long
Power:710 watts
Launch Date:21 October 1989, 09:31:01 UTC
Launch Rocket:Delta II 6925-9.5
(Delta D188)
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral, LC-17A
Launch Contractor:McDonnell Douglas
Entered Service:November 1989
Deactivated:16 March 2001
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit
Orbit Regime:Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
Orbit Slot:A5 (slot 5 plane A)
Orbit Inclination:54.7°
Orbit Period:717.9 minutes
Apsis:gee
Programme:Global Positioning System
Previous Mission:USA-42 (GPS II-3)
Next Mission:USA-49 (GPS II-5)

USA-47, also known as GPS II-4 and GPS SVN-19, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourth of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to fly.

Background

It was part of the 21-satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) Block II series that provides precise position data (accurate to within 16 m) to military and civilian users worldwide. Its signals could be received on devices as small as a telephone. The GPS II satellites, built by Rockwell International for the Air Force Space Systems Division, each have a 7.5-year design life. The Air Force intends to launch a GPS II every 2 to 3 months until the constellation of 21 operational satellite and 3 spares is aloft. The GPS Block II join 7 operational Block 1 satellites.

Launch

USA-47 was launched at 09:31:01 UTC on 21 October 1989, atop a Delta II launch vehicle, flight number D188, flying in the 6925 configuration.[1] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17A (LC-17A) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),[2] and placed USA-47 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[3]

Mission

On 21 November 1989, USA-47 was in an orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.7° of inclination to the equator.[4] It operated in slot 5 of plane A of the GPS constellation.[5] The satellite had a mass of, and generated 710 watts of power.[6] It had a design life of 7.5 years,[3] and ceased operations on 16 March 2001.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan. McDowell. 10 July 2012.
  2. Web site: Launch List. Jonathan's Space Report. Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan. McDowell. 10 July 2012. 15 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040340/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html. dead.
  3. Web site: GPS-2 (Navstar-2). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 10 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Satellite Catalog. Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan. McDowell . 10 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Navstar. https://web.archive.org/web/20021111162023/http://www.astronautix.com/project/navstar.htm. dead. 11 November 2002. Encyclopedia Astronautica . Mark. Wade. 10 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Display: Navstar 2-04 1989-085A. US National Space Science Data Center. NASA. 10 July 2012.