USA-80 explained

USA-80
Names List:Navstar 2A-04
GPS IIA-4
GPS II-13
GPS SVN-28
Mission Type:Navigation
Operator:U.S. Air Force
Cospar Id:1992-019A
Satcat:21930
Mission Duration:7.5 years (planned)
5.33 years (Achieved)
Spacecraft:GPS IIA
Spacecraft Type:GPS Block IIA
Manufacturer:Rockwell International
Dimensions: of long
Power:710 kg
Launch Date:10 April 1992, 03:20:00 UTC
Launch Rocket:Delta II 7925-9.5
(Delta D208)
Launch Site:Cape Canaveral, LC-17B
Launch Contractor:McDonnell Douglas
Entered Service:10 April 1992
Disposal Type:Graveyard orbit
Deactivated:15 August 1997
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit
Orbit Regime:Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
Orbit Slot:C2 (slot 2 plane C)
Orbit Inclination:55.10°
Orbit Period:716.00 minutes
Apsis:gee
Programme:Global Positioning System
Previous Mission:USA-79 (GPS IIA-3)
Next Mission:USA-83 (GPS IIA-5)

USA-80, also known as GPS IIA-4, GPS II-13 and GPS SVN-28, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

Background

Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide all-weather round-the-clock navigation capabilities for military ground, sea, and air forces. Since its implementation, GPS has also become an integral asset in numerous civilian applications and industries around the globe, including recreational used (e.g., boating, aircraft, hiking), corporate vehicle fleet tracking, and surveying. GPS employs 24 spacecraft in 20,200 km circular orbits inclined at 55.0°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane.[1]

GPS Block 2 was the operational system, following the demonstration system composed of Block 1 (Navstar 1 - 11) spacecraft. These spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts of power. They used S-band (SGLS) communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. The payload consisted of two L-band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 Cesium clocks and nuclear detonation detection sensors. Built by Rockwell Space Systems for the U.S. Air force, the spacecraft measured 5.3 m across with solar panels deployed and had a design life of 7.5 years.[1]

Launch

USA-80 was launched at 03:20:00 UTC on 10 April 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D208, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[2] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B (LC-17B) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),[3] and placed USA-80 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[4]

Mission

On 12 May 1992, USA-80 was in an orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, a period of 716.00 minutes, and 55.10° of inclination to the equator.[5] It had PRN 28, and operated in slot 2 of plane C of the GPS constellation. The satellite had a mass of . It had a design life of 7.5 years;[4] however, it was retired early, on 15 August 1997. It was replaced by USA-117.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Display: Navstar 2A-04 1992-019A. NASA. 14 May 2020. 18 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan. McDowell. 10 July 2012.
  3. 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.
  4. Web site: GPS-2A (Navstar-2A). Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 10 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Trajectory: Navstar 2A-04 1992-019A. NASA . 14 May 2020. 18 December 2020.