# USA-128

> United States navigational satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q7865650](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7865650)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-128)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/usa-128

## Summary
USA-128 is a United States navigational satellite launched on September 12, 1996, as part of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS). It is a medium Earth orbit satellite manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by the United States Air Force.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** GPS satellite (NAVSTAR Global Positioning System)
- **Launch Date:** September 12, 1996
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II (expendable launch system)
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- **Operator:** United States Air Force
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International
- **Orbit:** Medium Earth orbit
- **Aliases:** Navstar 2A-18, Navstar 39
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 24320
- **COSPAR ID:** 1996-056A

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of USA-128?
A: USA-128 is a navigational satellite designed for use within the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides essential positioning, navigation, and timing data to users worldwide.

### Q: Who manufactured and operated USA-128?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Rockwell International. It was operated by the United States Air Force following its launch in 1996.

### Q: How was USA-128 placed into orbit?
A: USA-128 was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta II rocket. It was successfully deployed into a medium Earth orbit.

## Why It Matters
USA-128 serves as a functional component of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS), a critical infrastructure for global navigation. As a GPS satellite, it contributes to the constellation required to provide accurate location and timing services for both military and civilian applications. The deployment of USA-128 was part of the ongoing effort by the United States Air Force to maintain and modernize the GPS network during the 1990s.

The satellite's launch via the Delta II rocket highlights the reliance on established expendable launch systems to build out space-based utilities. Manufactured by Rockwell International, USA-128 represents the industrial collaboration between the U.S. government and private aerospace contractors to maintain global positioning capabilities. By residing in medium Earth orbit, satellites like USA-128 ensure that GPS signals are accessible across the globe, supporting diverse sectors including aviation, maritime transport, and telecommunications. Its presence in the constellation helps guarantee the redundancy and precision necessary for the Global Positioning System to function as a reliable global utility.

## Notable For
- **GPS Constellation Member:** Part of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System used for global navigation.
- **Delta II Launch:** Deployed using the Delta II, a significant but now retired expendable launch system.
- **Multiple Designations:** Recognized in various catalogs as Navstar 2A-18 and Navstar 39.
- **Rockwell International Heritage:** Manufactured by Rockwell International, a major contributor to early GPS satellite technology.

## Body

### Mission and Classification
USA-128 is categorized as an "instance of" a GPS satellite. It was integrated into the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System to provide synchronized timing and spatial data. The satellite is also identified by the aliases Navstar 2A-18 and Navstar 39.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched on September 12, 1996. The significant event of its rocket launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The launch vehicle used for this mission was the Delta II, a retired expendable launch system within the Delta rocket family.

### Technical and Orbital Specifications
*   **Orbit:** The satellite is located in medium Earth orbit (MEO).
*   **Manufacturer:** The unit was constructed by Rockwell International.
*   **Operator:** The United States Air Force is the designated operator for the craft.
*   **Identification Codes:** 
    *   COSPAR ID: 1996-056A
    *   SCN (Satellite Catalog Number): 24320
    *   Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "24320"]
    *   Freebase ID: /m/0k926kt

### Historical Context
As a United States navigational satellite, USA-128 represents the mid-1990s era of GPS deployment. Its successful launch and operation were part of the broader strategic maintenance of the United States' satellite-based navigation capabilities.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report