Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2015-013A Mission duration 12 years (planned) Inclination 55° Period 12 hours Launch mass 1,630 kg Contractor United Launch Alliance | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 40534 Spacecraft GPS SVN-71 (IIF-9) Inclination 55° Launch mass 1,630 kg Launch date 25 March 2015 | |
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USA-260, also known as GPS IIF-9, GPS SVN-71 and NAVSTAR 73, is an American Satellite navigation which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the ninth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
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Launch
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-260 was launched at 18:36 UTC on 25 March 2015, atop a Delta IV carrier rocket, flight number D370, 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-260 directly into medium Earth orbit.
Orbit
On 25 March 2015, USA-260 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,445 kilometers (12,704 mi), an apogee of 20,468 kilometers (12,718 mi), a period of 729.14 minutes, and 55.00 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 26 signal, and operates in slot 5 of plane B 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 April 20, 2015.