Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2011-036A Mission duration 12 years (planned) Inclination 55° Period 12 hours Launch mass 1,630 kg | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 37753 Spacecraft GPS SVN-63 (IIF-2) Inclination 55° Launch mass 1,630 kg Launch date 16 July 2011 | |
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Similar PSSC‑2, USA‑224, Explorer‑1 [Prime], AubieSat‑1, USA‑225 | ||
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.
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-232 was launched at 06:41 UTC on 16 July 2011, atop a Delta IV carrier rocket, flight number D355, flying in the Medium+(4,2) configuration. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 37B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-232 directly into medium Earth orbit.
As of 24 July 2011, USA-232 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,452 kilometers (12,708 mi), an apogee of 20,463 kilometers (12,715 mi), a period of 729.16 minutes, and 55.0 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 01 signal, and operates in slot 2 of plane D of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a design life of 15 years and a mass of 1,630 kilograms (3,590 lb). As of 2012 it remains in service.