Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2001-004A Mission duration 10 years (planned) Inclination 55° Period 12 hours Launch mass 2,032 kg | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 26690 Spacecraft type GPS Block IIR Inclination 55° Launch mass 2,032 kg Launch date 30 January 2001 | |
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USA-156, also known as GPS IIR-7 and GPS SVN-54, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the seventh Block IIR GPS satellite to be launched, out of thirteen in the original configuration, and twenty one overall. It was built by Lockheed Martin, using the AS-4000 satellite bus.
USA-156 was launched at 07:55:01 UTC on 30 January 2001, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D283, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-156 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.
By 2 February 2001, USA-156 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,104 kilometres (12,492 mi), an apogee of 20,266 kilometres (12,593 mi), a period of 718.08 minutes, and 55 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 18 signal, and operates in slot 4 of plane E of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a mass of 2,032 kilograms (4,480 lb), and a design life of 10 years. As of 2012 it remains in service.