# USA-266

> GPS satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q23058761](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23058761)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-266)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/usa-266

## Summary
USA-266 is a GPS satellite launched by the United States Air Force on February 5, 2016. Also known as Navstar 76, this artificial satellite forms part of the Global Positioning System constellation that provides precise location and timing services worldwide.

## Key Facts
- USA-266 is a GPS satellite launched by the United States Air Force
- The satellite was launched on February 5, 2016
- Its COSPAR ID is 2016-007A
- The launch vehicle was an Atlas V 401
- USA-266 is also known by the alias Navstar 76
- It belongs to the Global Positioning System
- The satellite has 3 sitelinks on Wikipedia
- The Wikipedia title for this entity is USA-266

## FAQs
### Q: What is USA-266?
A: USA-266 is a GPS satellite operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Global Positioning System. It was launched on February 5, 2016, using an Atlas V 401 rocket.

### Q: When was USA-266 launched?
A: USA-266 was launched on February 5, 2016. This satellite, also known as Navstar 76, forms part of the GPS constellation that provides global positioning and timing services.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch USA-266?
A: USA-266 was launched using an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle by United Launch Alliance. The Atlas V is a medium-lift launch vehicle commonly used for satellite deployments.

## Why It Matters
USA-266 represents an important component of the Global Positioning System, a critical infrastructure that billions of people rely on daily for navigation, timing, and location services. The GPS constellation enables applications ranging from personal navigation devices to military operations, financial transactions, and scientific research. As a satellite in this system, USA-266 contributes to the robustness and reliability of GPS services by providing additional orbital coverage and redundancy. The continuous replenishment and maintenance of GPS satellites like USA-266 ensure the system's accuracy and availability, supporting both civilian and military operations worldwide that depend on precise positioning data.

## Notable For
- Being part of the Global Positioning System, one of the most widely used satellite navigation systems globally
- Launching on February 5, 2016, contributing to the ongoing modernization of GPS capabilities
- Being the 76th satellite in the Navstar GPS series
- Deployed via an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle, a reliable and commonly used rocket system
- Having a unique identifier (41328) in Wolfram's satellite database system

## Body
### Overview
USA-266 is a United States Air Force-operated GPS satellite that forms part of the Global Positioning System constellation. Also known as Navstar 76, this artificial satellite was designed to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing services to users worldwide.

### Technical Specifications
- Instance of: artificial satellite
- COSPAR ID: 2016-007A
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "41328"]
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11cm0p9p6g
- Wikipedia languages available: commons, English, Indonesian

### Mission Details
- Launch date: February 5, 2016
- Launch vehicle: Atlas V 401
- Operator: United States Air Force
- Part of: Global Positioning System
- Significant event: Rocket launch on 2016-02-05

### Related Entities
- Class: artificial satellite (human-made object put into orbit)
- Class: Atlas V 401 (United Launch Alliance launch vehicle)
- Country: United States

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report