Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2014-026A Mission duration 12 years (planned) Inclination 55.04° Period 12 hours Launch mass 1,630 kg | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 39741 Spacecraft GPS SVN-67 (IIF-6) Inclination 55.04° Launch mass 1,630 kg Launch date 17 May 2014 | |
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Similar Kosmos 2501, UniSat‑6, UAPSat‑1, BugSat 1, DirecTV‑14 | ||
USA-251, also known as GPS IIF-6, GPS SVN-67 and NAVSTAR 70, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the sixth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
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Launch
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-251 was launched at 00:03 UTC on 17 May 2014, atop a Delta IV carrier rocket, flight number D366, 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-251 directly into medium Earth orbit.
Orbit
As of 17 May 2014, USA-251 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,443 kilometers (12,703 mi), an apogee of 20,474 kilometers (12,722 mi), a period of 729.22 minutes, and 55.04 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 06 signal, and operates in slot 6 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). It is currently in service following commissioning on June 10, 2014.