Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2014-068A Mission duration 12 years (planned) Launch date 29 October 2014 Inclination 55° | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 40294 Spacecraft GPS SVN-69 (IIF-8) Inclination 55° | |
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Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41 Similar Kosmos 2501, UniSat‑6, UAPSat‑1, BugSat 1, DirecTV‑14 | ||
USA-258, also known as GPS IIF-8, GPS SVN-69 and NAVSTAR 72, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
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Launch
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-258 was launched at 17:21 UTC on 29 October 2014, atop a Atlas V 401 carrier rocket, vehicle number AV-050. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-258 directly into medium Earth orbit.
Orbit
As of 29 October 2014, USA-258 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,455 kilometers (12,710 mi), an apogee of 20,480 kilometers (12,730 mi), a period of 729.56 minutes, and 55.00 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 03 signal, and operates in slot 1 of plane E 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 December 12, 2014.