Navstar-2RM 8

Spacecraft n°:

US spacecraft n°:

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• The final Block IIR-M Global Positioning System satellite, space vehicle number SVN 50, was launched from Cape Canaveral on Aug 17, 2009. It is the 21st IIR launch, and will replace a Block IIA series satellite. The Delta II launch vehicle passed through intermediate orbits of 174 x 206 km x 37.5 deg and 191 x 1241 km x 38.0 deg to reach a (planned) 188 x 20256 km x 40.1 deg transfer orbit. GPS SVN 50 will fire its ATK Star 37 solid apogee motor to circularize the orbit at 20000 x 20000 km x 55 deg.
• Block IIR satellites were built by Lockheed Martin at its Valley Forge, Pennsylvania site near Philadelphia. The factory opened in 1961 as General Electric's Missiles and Space Division to build the Nimbus weather satellites and possibly the Orbital Control Vehicles for the KH-7 spy satellites.