| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1992-009A[1] |
| SATCAT no. | 21890[1] |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned)[2] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA[2] |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell[2] |
| Launch mass | 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 February 1992, 22:29:00 (1992-02-23UTC22:29Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5,[3] D207[3] |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B[3] |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 18 December 2009 (2009-12-19) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee altitude | 20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi)[4] |
| Apogee altitude | 20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi)[4] |
| Inclination | 54.7 degrees[4] |
| Period | 717.9 minutes[4] |
USA-79, also known as GPS IIA-3, GPS II-12 and GPS SVN-25, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the third of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-79 was launched at 22:29:00 UTC on 23 February 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D207, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.[3] The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-79 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.[2]
On 27 March 1992, USA-79 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi), an apogee of 20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator.[4] It had PRN 25, and operated in slot 2 of plane A of the GPS constellation.[6] The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years,[2] and ceased operations on 18 December 2009.
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| Block IIF |
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| Block III |
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| Block IIIF |
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Italics indicate future missions. Signs † indicate launch failures. | |
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). | |
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