USA-266

USA-266

A Block IIF GPS satellite
Mission type Navigation
Operator US Air Force
COSPAR ID 2016-007A[1]
SATCAT № 41328[1]
Mission duration 12 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft GPS SVN-70 (IIF-12)
Spacecraft type GPS Block IIF
Manufacturer Boeing
Launch mass 1,630 kilograms (3,590 lb)[2]
Start of mission
Launch date 5 February 2016, 13:38 (2016-02-05UTC13:38Z) UTC
Rocket Atlas V 401, AV-057[3]
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-41[3]
Contractor ULA
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Medium Earth
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee 20,196 km (12,549 mi)[4]
Apogee 20,181 km (12,540 mi)[4]
Inclination 55.01 degrees[4]
Period 717.9 minutes[4]
Epoch 12 March 2016, 01:14:53 UTC

USA-266, also known as GPS IIF-12, GPS SVN-70 and NAVSTAR 76, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the twelfth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.[2]

Launch

Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-266 was launched at 13:38 UTC on 5 February 2016, atop a Atlas V 401 carrier rocket, vehicle number AV-057.[3] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-266 directly into semi-synchronous orbit.[4]

Orbit

As of 12 March 2016, USA-266 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,181 kilometers (12,540 mi), an apogee of 20,196 kilometers (12,549 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 55.01 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It is used to broadcast the PRN 32 signal, and operates in slot 5 of plane F of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite has a design life of 15 years and a mass of 1,630 kilograms (3,590 lb). [2] It is currently in service following commissioning on March 9, 2016.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Navstar 76". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2F (Navstar-2F)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  6. "GPS Constellation Status". US Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. "NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2016022". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
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