NAVSTAR 52 (USA 168) (27704)

COSPAR: 2003-010A | Alt Name: GPS IIR-9

Image
NAVSTAR 52 (USA 168) Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

March 31, 2003

Launch Pad

SLC17A

Launch Vehicle

Delta 7925-9.5

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

27704

International Designator

2003-010A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 22:53:00 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

54.81°

Right Ascension

324.51°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

264.74°

Period

752.12 min

Mean Motion

1.91 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info

Name

NAVSTAR 52 (USA 168)

Alternative Name

GPS IIR-9

Type

Payload

Status

Backup

Owner

AFSMC

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 27704U 03010A   26185.95347529 -.00000073  00000+0  00000+0 0  9999
2 27704  54.8053 324.5108 0005772 264.7406  63.8021 01.91457658170262

Source: Celestrak

Summary
NAVSTAR 52 (USA 168), also known as GPS IIR-9, is a navigation satellite launched on March 31, 2003, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC17A launch pad using the Delta 7925-9.5 launch vehicle. The spacecraft measures 1.5 meters in length and has a diameter of 1.9 meters with a span of 19.3 meters due to its deployable solar arrays. It was manufactured by LMMS for AFSMC, weighing 1077 kilograms at launch and having a dry mass of 910 kilograms. Its mission is navigation as part of the GPS SVN 45 constellation. The satellite's power system includes two deployable solar arrays and batteries, with its shape described as a box plus two panels. The expected operational lifetime was ten years from its stable date on March 31, 2003.
Physical Characteristics

Length

1.5

Diameter

1.9

Span

19.3

Dry Mass

910

Launch Mass

1077

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

4.0247

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

GPS SVN 45

Purpose

Navigation

Mission

Navigation

Manufacturer

LMMS

Life Expectancy

10 years

Bus

Series 4000

Configuration

AS-4000

Motor

Star 37XFP

Equipment

?

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map
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