Background
Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the United States Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense to provide all-weather round-the-clock navigation capabilities for military ground, sea, and air forces. Since its implementation, GPS has also become an integral asset in numerous civilian applications and industries around the globe, including recreational used (e.g., boating, aircraft, hiking), corporate vehicle fleet tracking, and surveying. GPS employs 24 spacecraft in 20,200 km circular orbits inclined at 55°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane.Spacecraft
The first eleven spacecraft (GPS Block 1) were used to demonstrate the feasibility of the GPS system. They were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied over 400 watts. They had S band, S-band communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. They were manufactured by Rockwell International, Rockwell Space Systems, were 5.3 meters across with Solar panels on spacecraft, solar panels deployed, and had a design life expectancy of 5 years. Unlike the later operational satellites, GPS Block 1 spacecraft were inclined at 63°.Launch
OPS 5114 was launched at 03:59 UTC on 11 December 1978, atop an SM-65F Atlas, Atlas F launch vehicle with an SGS-1 Multistage rocket, upper stage. The Atlas used had the serial number 39F, and was originally built as an Atlas F. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3, Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base.Mission
OPS 5114 was placed into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star (rocket stage), Star-27 Apogee kick motor, apogee motor. By 8 January 1979, OPS 5114 was in an orbit with a apsis, perigee of , an apsis, apogee of , a orbital period, period of 717.96 minutes, and 63.20° of Orbital inclination, inclination to the equator. The satellite had a design life of 5 years and a mass of . It broadcast the PRN 08 signal in the GPS demonstration constellation, and was retired from service on 14 October 1989. On 20 February 1990, it was reactivated for further testing, before being deactivated again in May 1990.See also
* 1978 in spaceflightReferences
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