Mission type Navigation COSPAR ID 2016-007A Mission duration 12 years (planned) Launch date 5 February 2016 Inclination 55.01° Launch mass 1,630 kg Manufacturer Boeing | Operator US Air Force SATCAT no. 41328 Spacecraft GPS SVN-70 (IIF-12) Inclination 55.01° Period 12 hours | |
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USA-266, also known as GPS IIF-12, GPS SVN-70 and NAVSTAR 76, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the twelfth of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.
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Launch
Built by Boeing and launched by United Launch Alliance, USA-266 was launched at 13:38 UTC on 5 February 2016, atop a Atlas V 401 carrier rocket, vehicle number AV-057. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-266 directly into semi-synchronous orbit.
Orbit
As of 12 March 2016, USA-266 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,181 kilometers (12,540 mi), an apogee of 20,196 kilometers (12,549 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 55.01 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 32 signal, and operates in slot 5 of plane F 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 March 9, 2016.