USA-87

This article is about the satellite. For the boat, see USA 87 (America's Cup Class).

USA-87
NamesNavstar 2A-08
GPS IIA-8
GPS II-17
GPS SVN-29
Mission typeNavigation
OperatorU.S. Air Force
COSPAR ID1992-089A [1]
SATCAT no.22275
Mission duration7.5 years (planned)
14.75 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGPS IIA
Spacecraft typeGPS Block IIA[2]
ManufacturerRockwell International
Launch mass840 kg (1,850 lb)
Dimensions5.3 m (17 ft) of long
Power710 watts
Start of mission
Launch date18 December 1992,
22:16:00 UTC
RocketDelta II 7925-9.5
(Delta D217)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC-17B
ContractorMcDonnell Douglas
Entered service25 January 1993
End of mission
DisposalGraveyard orbit
Deactivated23 October 2007
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[3]
RegimeMedium Earth orbit
(Semi-synchronous)
SlotF5 (slot 5 plane F)
Perigee altitude20,137 km (12,513 mi)
Apogee altitude20,541 km (12,764 mi)
Inclination54.74°
Period720.00 minutes
← USA-85 (GPS IIA-7)
USA-88 (GPS IIA-9) →

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.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference GSP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Trajectory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).