OPS 5114

Last updated

OPS 5114
NamesNavstar 4
GPS I-4
GPS SVN-4
Mission type Navigation
Technology
Operator U.S. Air Force
COSPAR ID 1978-112A [1]
SATCAT no. 11141
Mission duration5 years (planned)
10.75 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Navstar
Spacecraft type GPS Block I
Manufacturer Rockwell Space Systems
Launch mass758 kg (1,671 lb)
Dimensions5.3 meters of long
Power400 watts
Start of mission
Launch date11 December 1978, 03:59 UTC
Rocket Atlas F / SGS-1
(Atlas-39F)
Launch site Vandenberg, SLC-3E
Contractor Convair
General Dynamics
Entered service8 January 1979
End of mission
Deactivated14 October 1989
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [2]
Regime Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
Perigee altitude 20,163 km (12,529 mi)
Apogee altitude 20,201 km (12,552 mi)
Inclination 63.2°
Period 717.96 minutes
  OPS 5113 (Navstar 3)
OPS 5117 (Navstar 5) 

OPS 5114, also known as Navstar 4, GPS I-4 and GPS SVN-4, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1978 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the fourth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched. [3]

Contents

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°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane. [1]

Spacecraft

The first eleven spacecraft (GPS Block 1) were used to demonstrate the feasibility of the GPS system. They were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied over 400 watts. They had S-band communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. They were manufactured by Rockwell Space Systems, were 5.3 meters across with solar panels deployed, and had a design life expectancy of 5 years. Unlike the later operational satellites, GPS Block 1 spacecraft were inclined at 63°. [1]

Launch

OPS 5114 was launched at 03:59 UTC on 11 December 1978, atop an Atlas F launch vehicle with an SGS-1 upper stage. The Atlas used had the serial number 39F, and was originally built as an Atlas F. [4] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. [5]

Mission

OPS 5114 was placed into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-27 apogee motor. [3]

By 8 January 1979, OPS 5114 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,163 km (12,529 mi), an apogee of 20,201 km (12,552 mi), a period of 717.96 minutes, and 63.20° of inclination to the equator. [6] The satellite had a design life of 5 years and a mass of 758 kg (1,671 lb). [3] It broadcast the PRN 08 signal in the GPS demonstration constellation, and was retired from service on 14 October 1989. On 20 February 1990, it was reactivated for further testing, before being deactivated again in May 1990.

See also

Related Research Articles

USA-87, also known as GPS IIA-8, GPS II-17 and GPS SVN-29, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-54, also known as GPS II-7 and GPS SVN-20, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the seventh of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to fly.

USA-63, also known as GPS II-8 and GPS SVN-21, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to fly.

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-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.

USA-88, also known as GPS IIA-9, GPS II-18 and GPS SVN-22, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the ninth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-90, also known as GPS IIA-10, GPS II-19 and GPS SVN-31, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the tenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-100, also known as GPS IIA-15, GPS II-24 and GPS SVN-36, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-128, also known as GPS IIA-18, GPS II-27 and GPS SVN-30, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighteenth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-135, also known as GPS IIA-19, GPS II-28 and GPS SVN-38, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the last of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OPS 5111</span> American navigation satellite used for GPS

OPS 5111, also known as Navstar 1, NDS-1, GPS I-1 and GPS SVN-1, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1978 as part of the Global Positioning System development program. It was the first GPS satellite to be launched, and one of eleven Block I demonstration satellites.

OPS 5112, also known as Navstar 2, NDS-2, GPS I-2 and GPS SVN-2, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1978 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the second of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

OPS 5113, also known as Navstar 3, GPS I-3 and GPS SVN-3, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1978 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the third of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

OPS 5117, also known as Navstar 5, GPS I-5 and GPS SVN-5, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1980 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the fifth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

OPS 5118, also known as Navstar 6, GPS I-6 and GPS SVN-6, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1980 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the sixth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

Navstar 7, also known as GPS I-7 and GPS SVN-7, was an American navigation satellite which was lost in a launch failure in 1981. It was intended to be used in the Global Positioning System development program. It was the seventh of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched, and the only one to fail to achieve orbit.

OPS 9794, also known as Navstar 8, GPS I-8 and GPS SVN-8, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1983 as part of the Global Positioning System development program. It was the eighth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-1, also known as Navstar 9, GPS I-9 and GPS SVN-9, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1984 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the ninth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched, and the first satellite to receive a USA designation.

USA-5, also known as Navstar 10, GPS I-10 and GPS SVN-10, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1984 as part of the Global Positioning System (GPS) development programme. It was the tenth of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

USA-10, also known as Navstar 11, GPS I-11 and GPS SVN-11, was an American navigation satellite launched in 1985 as part of the Global Positioning System development programme. It was the last of eleven Block I GPS satellites to be launched.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Display: Navstar 4 1978-112A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. "Trajectory: Navstar 4 1978-112A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. 1 2 3 Krebs, Gunter. "GPS (Navstar)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  4. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  5. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Launch Vehicle Database. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 12 July 2012.