Mission type Navigation
Technology COSPAR ID 1984-059A Spacecraft type GPS Block I | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 15039 | |
Mission duration 5 years (planned)
10 years (achieved) People also search for OPS 9794, OPS 5112, OPS 5118 | ||
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-1 was launched at 11:37 UTC on 13 June 1984, atop an Atlas E/F carrier rocket with an SGS-2 upper stage. The Atlas used had the serial number 42E, and was originally built as an Atlas E. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 3W at Vandenberg Air Force Base, and placed USA-1 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-27 apogee motor.
By 14 July 1984, USA-1 had been raised to an orbit with a perigee of 20,009 kilometres (12,433 mi), an apogee of 20,354 kilometres (12,647 mi), a period of 717.94 minutes, and 62.5 degrees of inclination to the equator. The satellite had a design life of 5 years and a mass of 758 kilograms (1,671 lb). It broadcast the PRN 13 signal in the GPS demonstration constellation, and was retired from service on 20 June 1994.