USA-71
{{Short description|American navigation satellite used for GPS}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = USA-71
| names_list = Navstar 2A-02
GPS IIA-2
GPS II-11
GPS SVN-24
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 290px
| mission_type = Navigation
| operator = U.S. Air Force
| SATCAT = 21552
| mission_duration = 7.5 years (planned)
20 years (achieved)
| spacecraft = GPS-IIA
| spacecraft_type = GPS Block IIA
| manufacturer = Rockwell International
| launch_mass = {{cvt|840|kg}}
| dimensions = {{cvt|5.3|m}} of long
| power = 710 watts
| launch_date = 4 July 1991, 02:32:00 UTC
| launch_rocket = Delta II 7925-9.5
(Delta D206)
| launch_site = Cape Canaveral, LC-17A
| launch_contractor = McDonnell Douglas
| entered_service = 14 August 1991
| disposal_type = Graveyard orbit
| deactivated = 30 September 2011
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
| orbit_slot = D1 (slot 1 plane D)
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|19451|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|20250|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 55.30°
| orbit_period = 704.60 minutes
| apsis = gee
| programme = Global Positioning System
| previous_mission = USA-66 (GPS IIA-1)
| next_mission = USA-79 (GPS IIA-3)
}}
USA-71, also known as GPS IIA-2, GPS II-11 and GPS SVN-24, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the second of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
Background
Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide all-weather round-the-clock navigation capabilities for military ground, sea, and air forces. Since its implementation, GPS has also become an integral asset in numerous civilian applications and industries around the globe, including recreational used (e.g., boating, aircraft, hiking), corporate vehicle fleet tracking, and surveying. GPS employs 24 spacecraft in 20,200 km circular orbits inclined at 55.0°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-047A|title=Display: Navstar 2A-02 1991-047A|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}} {{PD-notice}}
GPS Block 2 was the operational system, following the demonstration system composed of Block 1 (Navstar 1 - 11) spacecraft. These spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts of power. They used S-band (SGLS) communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. The payload consisted of two L-band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 Cesium clocks and nuclear detonation detection sensors. Built by Rockwell Space Systems for the U.S. Air force, the spacecraft measured 5.3 m across with solar panels deployed and had a design life of 7.5 years.
Launch
USA-71 was launched at 02:32:00 UTC on 4 July 1991, atop a Delta II launch vehicle, flight number D206, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.{{cite web |url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|title=Launch Log|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=10 July 2012}} The rocket launched from Launch Complex 17A (LC-17A) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS),{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|title=Launch List|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|work=Launch Vehicle Database|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|access-date=10 July 2012|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815040340/http://planet4589.org/space/lvdb/list2.html|url-status=dead}} and placed USA-71 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/navstar-2a.htm|title=GPS-2A (Navstar-2A)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|work=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=10 July 2012}}
Mission
On 14 August 1991, USA-71 was in an orbit with a perigee of {{cvt|19451|km}}, an apogee of {{cvt|20250|km}}, a period of 704.60 minutes, and 55.30° of inclination to the equator.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1991-047A|title=Trajectory: Navstar 2A-02 1991-047A |publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}} {{PD-notice}} It had PRN 24, and operated in slot 1 of plane D of the GPS constellation,{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/project/navstar.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021111162023/http://www.astronautix.com/project/navstar.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 November 2002|title=Navstar|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|first=Mark|last=Wade|access-date=10 July 2012}} until it was removed from service on 30 September 2011. It was replaced by USA-232 launched in July 2011. The satellite has a mass of {{cvt|840|kg}}, and a design life of 7.5 years.
References
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{GPS satellites}}
{{Orbital launches in 1991}}