USA-54
American navigation satellite used for GPS
title: "USA-54" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["gps-satellites", "usa-satellites", "spacecraft-launched-in-1990"] description: "American navigation satellite used for GPS" topic_path: "general/gps-satellites" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-54" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American navigation satellite used for GPS ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | USA-54 |
| names_list | Navstar 2-07 |
| GPS II-7 | |
| GPS SVN-20 | |
| image_size | 290px |
| mission_type | Navigation |
| operator | U.S. Air Force |
| COSPAR_ID | 1990-025A |
| SATCAT | 20533 |
| mission_duration | 7.5 years (planned) |
| 6.5 years (achieved) | |
| spacecraft | GPS II |
| spacecraft_type | GPS Block II |
| manufacturer | Rockwell International |
| launch_mass | 840 kg |
| dimensions | 5.3 m of long |
| power | 710 watts |
| launch_date | 26 March 1990, 02:45:01 UTC |
| launch_rocket | Delta II 6925-9.5 |
| (Delta D193) | |
| launch_site | Cape Canaveral, LC-17A |
| launch_contractor | McDonnell Douglas |
| entered_service | April 1990 |
| deactivated | 21 May 1996 |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric orbit |
| orbit_regime | Medium Earth orbit |
| (Semi-synchronous) | |
| orbit_slot | ? |
| orbit_periapsis | 20089 km |
| orbit_apoapsis | 20268 km |
| orbit_inclination | 55.0° |
| orbit_period | 717.84 minutes |
| apsis | gee |
| programme | Global Positioning System |
| previous_mission | USA-50 (GPS II-6) |
| next_mission | USA-63 (GPS II-8) |
| :: |
| name = USA-54 | names_list = Navstar 2-07 GPS II-7 GPS SVN-20 | image = | image_caption = | image_size = 290px
| mission_type = Navigation | operator = U.S. Air Force | COSPAR_ID = 1990-025A | SATCAT = 20533 | mission_duration = 7.5 years (planned) 6.5 years (achieved)
| spacecraft = GPS II | spacecraft_type = GPS Block II | manufacturer = Rockwell International | launch_mass = 840 kg | dimensions = 5.3 m of long | power = 710 watts
| launch_date = 26 March 1990, 02:45:01 UTC | launch_rocket = Delta II 6925-9.5 (Delta D193) | launch_site = Cape Canaveral, LC-17A | launch_contractor = McDonnell Douglas
| entered_service = April 1990 | disposal_type = | deactivated = 21 May 1996
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit | orbit_regime = Medium Earth orbit (Semi-synchronous) | orbit_slot = ? | orbit_periapsis = 20089 km | orbit_apoapsis = 20268 km | orbit_inclination = 55.0° | orbit_period = 717.84 minutes | apsis = gee
| programme = Global Positioning System | previous_mission = USA-50 (GPS II-6) | next_mission = USA-63 (GPS II-8)
USA-54, also known as GPS II-7 and GPS SVN-20, was an American navigation satellite which formed part of the Global Positioning System. It was the seventh of nine Block II GPS satellites to be launched, which were the first operational GPS satellites to fly.
Background
Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the 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 55.0°. These vehicles are placed in 6 orbit planes with four operational satellites in each plane.
GPS Block 2 was the operational system, following the demonstration system composed of Block 1 (Navstar 1 - 11) spacecraft. These spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing using reaction wheels. Dual solar arrays supplied 710 watts of power. They used S-band (SGLS) communications for control and telemetry and Ultra high frequency (UHF) cross-link between spacecraft. The payload consisted of two L-band navigation signals at 1575.42 MHz (L1) and 1227.60 MHz (L2). Each spacecraft carried 2 rubidium and 2 Cesium clocks and nuclear detonation detection sensors. Built by Rockwell Space Systems for the U.S. Air force, the spacecraft measured 5.3 m across with solar panels deployed and had a design life of 7.5 years.
Launch
USA-54 was launched at 02:45:01 UTC on 26 March 1990, atop a Delta II launch vehicle, flight number D193, flying in the 6925-9.5 configuration. The launch took place from Launch Complex 17A (LC-17A) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), and placed USA-54 into a transfer orbit. The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37XFP apogee motor.
Mission
On 30 April 1990, USA-54 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20089 km, an apogee of 20268 km, a period of 717.84 minutes, and 55.0° of inclination to the equator. The satellite had a mass of 840 kg, and generated 710 watts of power. It had a design life of 7.5 years, however following problems with the satellite switching between timing standards, the satellite was declared unusable on 21 May 1996.
References
References
- (14 May 2020). "Display: Navstar 2-07 1990-025A". NASA.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch List". Jonathan's Space Report.
- Krebs, Gunter. "GPS-2 (Navstar-2)". Gunter's Space Page.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Report.
- Wade, Mark. "Navstar". Encyclopedia Astronautica.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::