Home - Search - Browse - Alphabetic Index: 0- 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z

---

GPS Block 2 and 2A

---

GPS IIA in assembly Credit: Hughes

AKA: Global Positioning System;Navstar. Status: Operational 1989. First Launch: 1989-02-14. Last Launch: 1997-11-06. Number: 28 . Gross mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Height: 3.40 m (11.10 ft). Span: 5.30 m (17.30 ft).

Use of GPS receivers revolutionized civilian and military operations of every kind by providing precise location information. GPS Block 2 was the Operational system, following the Demonstration system comprised of Block 1 spacecraft. The Block 2A were "Advanced" versions of this spacecraft (mass 1816 kg). The complete basic constellation had 24 spacecraft in 6 high-altitude orbit planes. (4 slots per plane). In addition, on-orbit spares were placed in some planes in a fifth slot.

The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts (EOL). S-Band (SGLS) communications were used for control and telemetry. A UHF channel provided cross-links between spacecraft. A hydrazine propulsion system was used for orbital correction. The payload included two L-Band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 cesium clocks. Also carried were nuclear detonation detection sensors.

Launches were originally scheduled for Proton, Atlas, and Delta. Satellite costs $ 50 million for Block 2 and $ 40 million for Block 2A. Rockwell was the prime contractor, building a single Block 2 SVN 12 qualification vehicle under a 1981amendment to the Block I contract. This was followed in 1983 with a contract for 28 Block 2 and 2A satellites.

Electric System: 0.71 average kW.

Photo Gallery

---

---

GPS Block 2R Credit: USAF

---

---

USA 128 Credit: Manufacturer Image

---

• USA 35 - . Payload: GPS 2-1 / GPS SVN 14. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 19802 . COSPAR: 1989-013A. Apogee: 21,758 km (13,519 mi). Perigee: 21,480 km (13,340 mi). Inclination: 56.60 deg. Period: 777.00 min. First launch of second generation / operational Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane E Slot 1 of the constellation. Suffered a shutdown of its onboard reaction wheels on March 26, 2000. Decommissioned on April 14, 2000 and replaced by GPS 2R-4..

• USA 38 - . Payload: GPS 2-2 / GPS SVN 13. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20061 . COSPAR: 1989-044A. Apogee: 20,514 km (12,746 mi). Perigee: 19,849 km (12,333 mi). Inclination: 54.80 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane B Slot 3..

• USA 42 - . Payload: GPS 2-3 / GPS SVN 16. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20185 . COSPAR: 1989-064A. Apogee: 21,576 km (13,406 mi). Perigee: 21,509 km (13,365 mi). Inclination: 56.40 deg. Period: 773.80 min. Global Positioning System. Retired..

• USA 47 - . Payload: GPS 2-4 / GPS SVN 19. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20302 . COSPAR: 1989-085A. Apogee: 21,236 km (13,195 mi). Perigee: 21,190 km (13,160 mi). Inclination: 53.30 deg. Period: 760.20 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane A Slot 5..

• USA 49 - . Payload: GPS 2-5 / GPS SVN 17. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20361 . COSPAR: 1989-097A. Apogee: 20,371 km (12,657 mi). Perigee: 19,992 km (12,422 mi). Inclination: 55.40 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane D Slot 3..

• USA 50 - . Payload: GPS 2-6 / GPS SVN 18. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20452 . COSPAR: 1990-008A. Apogee: 21,226 km (13,189 mi). Perigee: 21,168 km (13,153 mi). Inclination: 55.00 deg. Period: 759.50 min. Global Positioning System. Retired..

• USA 54 - . Payload: GPS 2-7 / GPS SVN 20. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20533 . COSPAR: 1990-025A. Apogee: 21,156 km (13,145 mi). Perigee: 20,960 km (13,020 mi). Inclination: 53.70 deg. Period: 753.80 min. Global Positioning System. Declared unusable on 21 May 1996 at 22:42 following two uncommanded changes in frequency standards..

• USA 63 - . Payload: GPS 2-8 / GPS SVN 21. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20724 . COSPAR: 1990-068A. Apogee: 20,468 km (12,718 mi). Perigee: 19,896 km (12,362 mi). Inclination: 54.70 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane E Slot 2..

• USA 64 - . Payload: GPS 2-9 / GPS SVN 15. Mass: 1,665 kg (3,670 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20830 . COSPAR: 1990-088A. Apogee: 20,363 km (12,652 mi). Perigee: 20,002 km (12,428 mi). Inclination: 55.40 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane D Slot 5..

• USA 66 - . Payload: GPS 2A-10 / GPS SVN 23. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 20959 . COSPAR: 1990-103A. Apogee: 20,384 km (12,666 mi). Perigee: 19,978 km (12,413 mi). Inclination: 54.90 deg. Period: 717.90 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane E Slot 5..

• USA 71 - . Payload: GPS 2A-11 / GPS SVN 24. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 21552 . COSPAR: 1991-047A. Apogee: 20,319 km (12,625 mi). Perigee: 20,043 km (12,454 mi). Inclination: 55.60 deg. Period: 717.90 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane D Slot 1..

• USA 79 - . Payload: GPS 2A-12 / GPS SVN 25. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 21890 . COSPAR: 1992-009A. Apogee: 20,332 km (12,633 mi). Perigee: 20,032 km (12,447 mi). Inclination: 54.20 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane A Slot 2..

• USA 80 - . Payload: GPS 2A-13 / GPS SVN 28. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 21930 . COSPAR: 1992-019A. Apogee: 20,277 km (12,599 mi). Perigee: 20,082 km (12,478 mi). Inclination: 54.50 deg. Period: 717.90 min. Global Positioning System. Retired 15 August 1997..

• USA 83 - . Payload: GPS 2A-14 / GPS SVN 26. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22014 . COSPAR: 1992-039A. Apogee: 20,400 km (12,600 mi). Perigee: 19,962 km (12,403 mi). Inclination: 54.90 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane F Slot 2..

• USA 84 - . Payload: GPS 2A-15 / GPS SVN 27. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22108 . COSPAR: 1992-058A. Apogee: 20,453 km (12,708 mi). Perigee: 19,909 km (12,370 mi). Inclination: 54.50 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane A Slot 4..

• USA 85 - . Payload: GPS 2A-16 / GPS SVN 32. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22231 . COSPAR: 1992-079A. Apogee: 20,325 km (12,629 mi). Perigee: 20,038 km (12,451 mi). Inclination: 55.50 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane F Slot 4..

• USA 87 - . Payload: GPS 2A-17 / GPS SVN 29. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22275 . COSPAR: 1992-089A. Apogee: 20,324 km (12,628 mi). Perigee: 20,038 km (12,451 mi). Inclination: 54.70 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane F Slot 5..

• USA 88 - . Payload: GPS 2A-18 / GPS SVN 22. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22446 . COSPAR: 1993-007A. Apogee: 20,359 km (12,650 mi). Perigee: 20,006 km (12,431 mi). Inclination: 54.80 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane Plane B Slot 1..

• USA 90 - . Payload: GPS 2A-19 / GPS SVN 31. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22581 . COSPAR: 1993-017A. Apogee: 20,293 km (12,609 mi). Perigee: 20,072 km (12,472 mi). Inclination: 55.00 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane C Slot 3..

• USA 91 - . Payload: GPS 2A-20 / GPS SVN 37. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22657 . COSPAR: 1993-032A. Apogee: 20,345 km (12,641 mi). Perigee: 20,017 km (12,437 mi). Inclination: 55.10 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane C Slot 4..

• USA 92 - . Payload: GPS 2A-21 / GPS SVN 39. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22700 . COSPAR: 1993-042A. Apogee: 20,250 km (12,580 mi). Perigee: 20,112 km (12,496 mi). Inclination: 54.60 deg. Period: 717.90 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane A Slot 1..

• USA 94 - . Payload: GPS 2A-22 / GPS SVN 35. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22779 . COSPAR: 1993-054A. Apogee: 20,255 km (12,585 mi). Perigee: 20,110 km (12,490 mi). Inclination: 54.90 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane B Slot 4..

• USA 96 - . Payload: GPS 2A-23 / GPS SVN 34. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 22877 . COSPAR: 1993-068A. Apogee: 20,260 km (12,580 mi). Perigee: 20,104 km (12,492 mi). Inclination: 55.10 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane D Slot 4..

• USA 100 - . Payload: GPS 2A-24 / GPS SVN 36. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 23027 . COSPAR: 1994-016A. Apogee: 20,366 km (12,654 mi). Perigee: 20,000 km (12,000 mi). Inclination: 53.90 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Final element of initial GPS constellation. Placed in Plane C Slot 1..

• USA 117 - . Payload: GPS 2A-25 / GPS SVN 33. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 23833 . COSPAR: 1996-019A. Apogee: 20,257 km (12,587 mi). Perigee: 20,106 km (12,493 mi). Inclination: 54.60 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Placed in Plane C Slot 2 of the constellation..

• USA 126 - . Payload: GPS 2A-26 / GPS SVN 40. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 23953 . COSPAR: 1996-041A. Apogee: 20,237 km (12,574 mi). Perigee: 20,127 km (12,506 mi). Inclination: 55.10 deg. Period: 717.90 min. Placed in Plane E Slot 3 of the constellation..

• USA 128 - . Payload: GPS 2A-27 / GPS SVN 30. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 24320 . COSPAR: 1996-056A. Apogee: 20,320 km (12,620 mi). Perigee: 20,042 km (12,453 mi). Inclination: 54.70 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Placed in Plane B Slot 2 of the constellation..

• USA 134 - . Payload: GPS 2A-28 / GPS SVN 38. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 25030 . COSPAR: 1997-067A. Apogee: 20,394 km (12,672 mi). Perigee: 19,970 km (12,400 mi). Inclination: 55.00 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Final GPS Block 2A satellite. Placed in Plane A Slot 3..