USA-199
(Instrumentality)
What is USA-199?
USA-199, also known as GPS IIR-18(M), GPS IIRM-5 and GPS SVN-57, is an American navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifth of eight Block IIRM satellites to be launched, and the eighteenth of twenty one Block IIR satellites overall. It was built by Lockheed Martin, using the satellite bus. USA-199 was launched at 20:04:00 UTC on 20 December 2007, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D331, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-199 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor. By 15 February 2008, USA-199 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,082 kilometres (12,478 mi), an apogee of 20,283 kilometres (12,603 mi), a period of 717.98 minutes, and 54.9 degrees of inclination to the equator. It is used to broadcast the PRN 29 signal, and operates in slot 1 of plane C of the GPS constellation. The satellite has a design life of 10 years and a mass of 2,032 kilograms (4,480 lb). As of 2012 it remains in service.