GPS-2F 8 (Navstar 69, SVN 69, USA 258, Spica)

Spacecraft nº:

US spacecraft nº:

Launch data: Designation  40294 / 14068A Launch date  29 Oct 2014 - 17:21 UT Launch site  CC SLC-41 Launch vehicle  Atlas-5/401 (AV-050) Mission  Navigation Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  20155 x 20212 km Eccentricity   Inclination   54.97° Period  718.03 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• NAVSTAR 72 (USA 258) is a GPS 2F-8 satellite that will join the orbiting navigation network as the 31st functioning spacecraft—including four launched in 2014—and 8 backups. GPS 2F-8 will take Plane E, Slot 1 of the fleet in a shuffling plan that ultimately enhances the network. It should be checked out and operational by mid-December.

Mission details:

• GPS satellite vehicle SVN 69, flight IIF-8, nicknamed Spica, was launched on Atlas V serial AV-050 from Cape Canaveral on Oct 29, 2014. It reached a 167 x 20281 km transfer orbit 17 minutes after launch; the Centaur restarted at 2040 UTC to place the GPS IIF-8 mission in a 20456 x 20464 km x 55.0 deg orbit.

External links:

• Satellite tracking:
  Real time satellite tracking