Manufacturer | Boeing | ||
---|---|---|---|
Country of origin | United States | ||
Operator | United States Air Force | ||
Applications | Satellite navigation | ||
Specifications | |||
Launch mass | 1,633 kg (3,600 lb) [1] | ||
Power | 1952 watts (end of life) [1] | ||
Regime | Semi-synchronous MEO | ||
Design life | 12 years (planned) | ||
Dimensions | |||
Production | |||
Status | Production completed | ||
On order | 0 | ||
Built | 12 | ||
Launched | 12 | ||
Operational | 12 | ||
Maiden launch | GPS IIF SV-1 28 May 2010, 03:00 UTC | ||
Last launch | GPS IIF-12 5 February 2016, 13:38 UTC | ||
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GPS Block IIF, or GPS IIF is an interim class of GPS (satellite), which are used to keep the Navstar Global Positioning System operational until the GPS Block IIIA satellites become operational. They were built by Boeing, to be operated by the United States Air Force being launched by United Launch Alliance (ULA), using Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV). [2] They are the final component of the Block II GPS constellation to be launched. On 5 February 2016, the final satellite in the GPS Block IIF was successfully launched, completing the block.
The spacecraft have a mass of 1,633 kg (3,600 lb) and a design life of 12 years. Like earlier GPS satellites, Block IIF spacecraft operate in semi-synchronous medium Earth orbits, with an altitude of approximately 20,460 km (12,710 mi), and an orbital period of twelve hours.
The satellites replace the GPS Block IIA satellites that were launched between 1990 and 1997 and were designed to last 7.5 years. [3] The final satellite of the Block IIA series was decommissioned on 25 January 2016. [4] The operational constellation now includes Block IIR, IIRM, IIF and III variants.
Because the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles are more powerful than the Delta II, which was used to orbit earlier Block II GPS satellites, they can place the satellites directly into their operational orbits. As a result, Block IIF satellites do not carry apogee kick motors. The original contract for Block IIF, signed in 1996, called for 33 spacecraft. This was later reduced to 12, and program delays and technical problems pushed the first launch from 2006 to 2010. [5]
Overall, 12 GPS Block IIF satellites were launched, all of which are currently operational:
Satellite | USA designation | Launch date (UTC) | Rocket | Launch site | Status | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GPS IIF-1 | USA-213 | 28 May 2010, 03:00 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D349 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | [6] [7] [8] | |
GPS IIF-2 | USA-232 | 16 July 2011, 06:41 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D355 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | [9] | |
GPS IIF-3 | USA-239 | 4 October 2012, 12:10 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D361 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | This launch came shortly before the 10th anniversary of the inaugural Delta IV launch. | [10] |
GPS IIF-4 | USA-242 | 15 May 2013, 21:38 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-039 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [11] [12] | |
GPS IIF-5 | USA-248 | 21 February 2014, 01:59 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D365 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | [13] | |
GPS IIF-6 | USA-251 | 17 May 2014, 00:03 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D366 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | [14] | |
GPS IIF-7 | USA-256 | 2 August 2014, 03:23 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-048 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [15] [16] | |
GPS IIF-8 | USA-258 | 29 October 2014, 17:21 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-050 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [17] [18] | |
GPS IIF-9 | USA-260 | 25 March 2015, 18:36 | Delta IV-M+(4,2), s/n D371 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | In service | [19] | |
GPS IIF-10 | USA-262 | 15 July 2015, 15:36 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-055 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [15] | |
GPS IIF-11 | USA-265 | 31 October 2015, 16:13 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-060 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [15] [20] | |
GPS IIF-12 | USA-266 | 5 February 2016, 13:38 | Atlas V 401, s/n AV-057 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-41 | In service | [15] [21] |
United Launch Alliance (ULA), legally United Launch Alliance, LLC, is an American spacecraft launch service provider that has manufactured and operated a number of rocket vehicles that are capable of launching spacecraft into orbits around Earth and to other bodies in the Solar System and beyond. The company, which is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security, was formed in December 2006. Launch customers of the United Launch Alliance include the Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, and other organizations.
GPS satellite blocks are the various production generations of the Global Positioning System (GPS) used for satellite navigation. The first satellite in the system, Navstar 1, was launched on 22 February 1978. The GPS satellite constellation is operated by the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS) of Space Delta 8, United States Space Force.
USA-206, also GPS SVN-50, PRN-05 and NAVSTAR 64 and known before launch as GPS IIR-21, GPS IIRM-8 or GPS IIR-21(M), is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Navstar Global Positioning System. It was the twenty-first and last Block IIR GPS satellite to be launched, and the eighth to use the modernized IIRM configuration.
USA-213, also known as GPS SVN-62, GPS IIF SV-1 and NAVSTAR 65, 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 03:00:00 UTC 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.
USA-83, also known as GPS IIA-5, GPS II-14 and GPS SVN-26, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-242, also known as GPS IIF-4, GPS IIF SV-5, Navstar-68 and Vega, is an American navigation satellite which was launched on 15 May 2013 and became operational on 21 June 2013. The fourth Block IIF GPS satellite, it forms part of the Global Positioning System.
USA-92, also known as GPS IIA-12, GPS II-21, GPS SVN-39, and NAVSTAR 39, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the twelfth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-94, also known as GPS IIA-13, GPS II-22 and GPS SVN-35, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the thirteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-96, also known as GPS IIA-14, GPS II-23 and GPS SVN-34, is an American navigation satellite which is part of the Global Positioning System. It was 14 of 19 Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched, and the last one to be retired.
USA-232, also known as GPS IIF-2, and GPS SVN-63, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the second of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-239, also known as GPS IIF-3, GPS SVN-65, and Navstar-67 is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the third of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-248, also known as GPS IIF-5, GPS SVN-64 and NAVSTAR 69, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-251, also known as GPS IIF-6, GPS SVN-67 and NAVSTAR 70, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the sixth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-256, also known as GPS IIF-7, GPS SVN-68 and NAVSTAR 71, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the seventh of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-258, also known as GPS IIF-8, GPS SVN-69 and NAVSTAR 72, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-260, also known as GPS IIF-9, GPS SVN-71 and NAVSTAR 73, is an American Satellite navigation which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the ninth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-262, also known as GPS IIF-10, GPS SVN-72 and NAVSTAR 74, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the tenth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
USA-265, also known as GPS IIF-11, GPS SVN-73 and NAVSTAR 75, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eleventh of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
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.