The Day That Changed How We Navigate Forever
Forty-seven years ago, an Atlas rocket carried the first GPS satellite into orbit, launching a revolution in navigation that would transform daily life across the globe
Launch Date
June 30, 2003
Launch Site
PLMSC
Launch Pad
LC133/3
Launch Vehicle
Rokot
NORAD ID
27845
International Designator
2003-031F
Epoch
Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:17:07 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
98.66°
Right Ascension
193.59°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
147.22°
Period
101.06 min
Mean Motion
14.25 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Name
QUAKESAT
Alternative Name
QuakeSat
Type
Status
Owner
QUAFI
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
1 27845U 03031F 26185.01188787 .00000439 00000-0 20647-3 0 9993
2 27845 98.6627 193.5934 0009230 147.2166 212.9588 14.24962685194007
Source: Celestrak
Length
0.3
Diameter
0.1
Span
0.6
Dry Mass
4
Launch Mass
4
Shape
Box + Ant
Radar Cross Section
0.2138
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
QuakeSat
Purpose
Earth sciences
Mission
Earth sciences
Manufacturer
STAN
Life Expectancy
1 year (planned), 1.5 years (achieved)
Bus
Cubesat 3U
Configuration
CubeSat (triple)
Motor
None
Equipment
single axis, search coil type magnetometer
Power System
4 deployable fixed solar arrays, solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
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Forty-seven years ago, an Atlas rocket carried the first GPS satellite into orbit, launching a revolution in navigation that would transform daily life across the globe
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