USA-90
{{Short description|American navigation satellite used for GPS}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = USA-90
| names_list = Navstar 2A-10
GPS IIA-10
GPS II-19
GPS SVN-31
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 290px
| mission_type = Navigation
| operator = U.S. Air Force
| SATCAT = 22581
| mission_duration = 7.5 years (planned)
12.5 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 = 30 March 1993, 03:09:00 UTC
| launch_rocket = Delta II 7925-9.5
(Delta D219)
| launch_site = Cape Canaveral, LC-17A
| launch_contractor = McDonnell Douglas
| entered_service = 2 May 1993
| disposal_type = Graveyard orbit
| deactivated = 24 October 2005
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Medium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
| orbit_slot = C3 (slot 3 plane C)
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|20076|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|20287|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 54.9°
| orbit_period = 717.96 minutes
| apsis = gee
| programme = Global Positioning System
| previous_mission = USA-88 (GPS IIA-9)
| next_mission = USA-91 (GPS IIA-11)
}}
USA-90, also known as GPS IIA-10, GPS II-19 and GPS SVN-31, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the tenth 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=1993-017A|title=Display: Navstar 2A-10 1993-017A|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020|access-date=19 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-90 was launched at 03:09:00 UTC on 30 March 1993, atop a Delta II launch vehicle, flight number D219, 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 launch took place 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-90 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|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=10 July 2012}}
Mission
On 2 May 1993, USA-90 was in an orbit with a perigee of {{cvt|20076|km}}, an apogee of {{cvt|20287|km}}, a period of 717.96 minutes, and 54.9° of inclination to the equator.{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1993-017A|title=Trajectory: Navstar 2A-10 1993-017A|publisher=NASA |date=14 May 2020|access-date=19 December 2020}} {{PD-notice}} It broadcast PRN 31, and operated in slot 3 of plane C 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}} The satellite had a mass of {{cvt|840|kg}}. It had a design life of 7.5 years, and ceased operations on 24 October 2005.
References
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Reflist|2}}
{{GPS satellites}}
{{Orbital launches in 1993}}