USA-319

Artist's rendering of GPS-III SV05 in orbit
Names	Navstar 81 GPS-III SV05 Neil Armstrong
Mission type	Navigation
Operator	USSF
COSPAR ID	2021-054A
SATCAT no.	48859
Mission duration	15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	GPS-III SV05
Spacecraft type	GPS Block III
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Launch mass	4331 kg
Power	watts
Start of mission
Launch date	17 June 2021, 16:09 UTC
Rocket	Falcon 9 B1062.2
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-40
Contractor	SpaceX
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Medium Earth orbit (Semi-synchronous orbit)
Perigee altitude	20,163 km (12,529 mi)
Apogee altitude	20,216 km (12,562 mi)
Inclination	55.3°
Period	718.0 minutes

USA-319, also known as GPS-III SV05, NAVSTAR 81 or Neil Armstrong, is a United States navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fifth GPS Block III satellite to be launched.^[1]

Satellite

SV05 is the fifth GPS Block III satellite. Satellite construction was completed in early 2021.

The spacecraft is built on the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus, and weighs approximately 4,331 kg (9,548 lb).^[1]

SV05 is the 24th operational Military Code (M-Code) satellite to join the GPS constellation, the last required for M-Code Full Operational Capability.

Launch

USA-319 was launched by SpaceX on 17 June 2021 at 16:09 UTC, atop Falcon 9 booster B1062. This booster had previously launched SV04 a year prior.

The launch took place from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and placed USA-319 directly into semi-synchronous orbit. About eight minutes after launch, Falcon 9 successfully landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.^[1]

Orbit

As of 2023, USA-319 was in a 55.3 degree inclination orbit with a perigee of 20,163 kilometers (12,529 mi) and an apogee of 20,216 km (12,562 mi).^[2]

References