USA-309


USA-309, also known as GPS-III SV04, NAVSTAR 80 or Sacagawea, is a United States navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System. It was the fourth GPS Block III satellite to be launched.

Satellite

SV04 is the fourth GPS Block III satellite to be launched. Launch was pushed back several times due to delays with the earlier satellites.
The spacecraft is built on the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus, and weighs in at.

Launch

USA-309 was launched by SpaceX on 5th of November 2020 at 23:24 UTC atop Falcon 9 booster Falcon 9 first-stage boosters|B1062]. The launch took place from SLC-40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and placed USA-309 directly into semi-synchronous orbit. About eight minutes after launch, Falcon 9 B1062 successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.

Orbit

As of 2021, USA-309 was in a 54.9 degree inclination orbit with a perigee of and an apogee of.