USA-87
| Mission type | Navigation |
|---|---|
| Operator | US Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 1992-089A |
| SATCAT no. | 22275 |
| Mission duration | 7.5 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GPS Block IIA |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell |
| Launch mass | 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 18 December 1992, 22:16:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7925-9.5, D217 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
| End of mission | |
| Deactivated | 23 October 2007 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime |
Medium Earth (Semi-synchronous) |
| Perigee | 20,037 kilometres (12,450 mi) |
| Apogee | 20,326 kilometres (12,630 mi) |
| Inclination | 54.7 degrees |
| Period | 717.94 minutes |
USA-87, also known as GPS IIA-8, GPS II-17 and GPS SVN-29, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the eighth of nineteen Block IIA GPS satellites to be launched.
USA-87 was launched at 22:16:00 UTC on 18 December 1992, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D217, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-87 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.
On 25 January 1993, USA-87 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,037 kilometres (12,450 mi), an apogee of 20,326 kilometres (12,630 mi), a period of 717.94 minutes, and 54.7 degrees of inclination to the equator. It had PRN 29, and operated in slot 5 of plane F of the GPS constellation. The satellite had a mass of 1,816 kilograms (4,004 lb). It had a design life of 7.5 years, and ceased operations on 23 October 2007.
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