Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2004-023A Mission duration 10 years (planned) Inclination 55° Period 12 hours Launch mass 2,032 kg | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 28361 Spacecraft type GPS Block IIR Inclination 55° Launch mass 2,032 kg Launch date 23 June 2004 | |
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USA-178, also known as GPS IIR-12 and GPS SVN-60, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the twelfth 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-178 was launched at 22:54:00 UTC on 23 June 2004, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D305, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-178 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.
By 23 August 2004, USA-178 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,089 kilometres (12,483 mi), an apogee of 20,277 kilometres (12,600 mi), a period of 718 minutes, and 55 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 23 signal, and operates in slot 4 of plane F 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.