USA-213
Encyclopedia
USA-213, also known as GPS SVN-62 and GPS IIF SV-1 is the first satellite in the Block IIF
series of Global Positioning System
navigation satellites. It will be used to relay signals for the United States Air Force
Navstar Global Positioning System
(GPS). The satellite was launched at 03:00 GMT on 28 May 2010. It will be placed into plane B of the GPS constellation, and will transmit the PRN-25 signal. PRN-25 was previously broadcast by USA-79, which was retired in late 2009 after almost eighteen years of service.
GPS IIF spacecraft are built by Boeing
, under a contract which was originally signed in 1996. At the time, thirty three satellites were planned, however this has since decreased to twelve.
Delta IV-M+(4,2) rocket, flying from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
. This made it the first GPS satellite to be launched on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, and the first time since 1985 that anything other than a Delta II
had been used to launch one.
The launch occurred successfully at 03:00 UTC on 28 May 2010, at the start of a nineteen minute launch window. It was originally scheduled to occur in 2006, however programme and engineering delays resulted in it slipping to 2010. The first launch attempt was made on 21 May 2010, during a launch window
opening at 03:25 UTC and closing at 03:43. A problem with spacecraft telemetry
was detected, but resolved in time for an attempt to be made at the end of the window, however it recurred during the last minutes of the countdown. With no launch window remaining, the launch was scrubbed. The launch was rescheduled for 24 May, between 03:17 and 03:35 UTC, but scrubbed early in the countdown to allow further time to resolve the problem which had occurred during the previous attempt. An attempt on 25 May, targeting the start of an eighteen minute window at 03:13, resulted in a scrub after a hold was called less than ten seconds before the rocket was scheduled to launch, due to a problem with the thrust vectoring of the solid rocket motors. Launch attempts on 26 and 27 May were not possible as the Eastern Range had to be reconfigured to support the final landing of , returning from STS-132
.
Unlike earlier GPS satellites, which were launched on Atlas E/F
and Delta II
rockets, GPS IIF SV-1 was placed directly into its operational orbit, eliminating the need for an apogee motor.
GPS Block IIF
GPS Block IIF, or GPS IIF is an interim class of GPS satellite, which will be used to keep the Navstar Global Positioning System operational until the Block IIIA satellites become operational. They are being built by Boeing, and will be operated by the United States Air Force following their launch...
series of Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
navigation satellites. It will be used to relay signals for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Navstar Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
(GPS). The satellite was launched at 03:00 GMT on 28 May 2010. It will be placed into plane B of the GPS constellation, and will transmit the PRN-25 signal. PRN-25 was previously broadcast by USA-79, which was retired in late 2009 after almost eighteen years of service.
Spacecraft
USA-213 is a 1630 kilograms (3,593.5 lb) spacecraft, which is expected to remain in service for at least twelve years. In addition to broadcasting the same signals as previous satellites, it will also broadcast the L5 signal, and a military signal known as M-code. Its signal accuracy is expected to be twice that of its predecessors. It is the sixty-first GPS satellite to be launched, and the fiftieth Block II spacecraft.GPS IIF spacecraft are built by Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, under a contract which was originally signed in 1996. At the time, thirty three satellites were planned, however this has since decreased to twelve.
Launch
GPS IIF SV-1 was launched on a United Launch AllianceUnited Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. U.S...
Delta IV-M+(4,2) rocket, flying from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
. This made it the first GPS satellite to be launched on an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, and the first time since 1985 that anything other than a Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
had been used to launch one.
The launch occurred successfully at 03:00 UTC on 28 May 2010, at the start of a nineteen minute launch window. It was originally scheduled to occur in 2006, however programme and engineering delays resulted in it slipping to 2010. The first launch attempt was made on 21 May 2010, during a launch window
Launch window
Launch window is a term used in spaceflight to describe a time period in which a particular launch vehicle must be launched. If the rocket does not launch within the "window", it has to wait for the next window....
opening at 03:25 UTC and closing at 03:43. A problem with spacecraft telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
was detected, but resolved in time for an attempt to be made at the end of the window, however it recurred during the last minutes of the countdown. With no launch window remaining, the launch was scrubbed. The launch was rescheduled for 24 May, between 03:17 and 03:35 UTC, but scrubbed early in the countdown to allow further time to resolve the problem which had occurred during the previous attempt. An attempt on 25 May, targeting the start of an eighteen minute window at 03:13, resulted in a scrub after a hold was called less than ten seconds before the rocket was scheduled to launch, due to a problem with the thrust vectoring of the solid rocket motors. Launch attempts on 26 and 27 May were not possible as the Eastern Range had to be reconfigured to support the final landing of , returning from STS-132
STS-132
STS-132 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, during which Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station on 16 May 2010. STS-132 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on 14 May 2010. The primary payload was the Russian Rassvet Mini-Research Module, along with an Integrated...
.
Unlike earlier GPS satellites, which were launched on Atlas E/F
Atlas E/F
The Atlas E/F, also designated SB-1A was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket built using parts of decommissioned SM-65 Atlas missiles...
and Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
rockets, GPS IIF SV-1 was placed directly into its operational orbit, eliminating the need for an apogee motor.