USA-79
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1992-009A |
| SATCAT no. | 21890 |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell |
| Launch mass | 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 23 February 1992, 22:29:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5, D207 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 18 December 2009 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime |
Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee | 20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi) |
| Apogee | 20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi) |
| Inclination | 54.7 degrees |
| Period | 717.9 minutes |
USA-79, also known as GPS IIA-3, GPS II-12 and GPS SVN-25, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the third of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-79 was launched at 22:29:00 UTC on 23 February 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D207, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-79 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.
On 27 March 1992, USA-79 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,018 kilometres (12,439 mi), an apogee of 20,343 kilometres (12,641 mi), a period of 717.9 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator. It had PRN 25, and operated in slot 2 of plane A of the GPS constellation. The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years, and ceased operations on 18 December 2009.
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