# USA-90

> American navigation satellite used for GPS

**Wikidata**: [Q7865712](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7865712)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-90)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/usa-90

## Summary
USA-90 is an American navigation satellite launched on March 30, 1993, for the Global Positioning System (GPS). It was manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by the United States Air Force to provide positioning, navigation, and timing services.

## Key Facts
- USA-90 (also known as Navstar 2A-10 or Navstar 31) is a GPS satellite launched on March 30, 1993
- The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta II launch vehicle
- USA-90 was manufactured by Rockwell International for the United States Air Force
- It has the COSPAR ID 1993-017A and SCN number 22581
- USA-90 is part of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation
- The satellite was developed to provide positioning, navigation, and timing services worldwide
- USA-90 represents one of the navigation satellites in the GPS network maintained by the U.S. Air Force

## FAQs
### Q: What is USA-90?
A: USA-90 is an American navigation satellite launched on March 30, 1993, for the Global Positioning System (GPS). It was developed to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing services to users worldwide.

### Q: Who manufactured and operated USA-90?
A: USA-90 was manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by the United States Air Force. The launch vehicle used was a Delta II rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What is the purpose of USA-90?
A: USA-90 serves as part of the GPS constellation, providing global positioning, navigation, and timing services. It enables accurate location determination for military, civilian, commercial, and scientific applications across the globe.

### Q: What other names is USA-90 known by?
A: USA-90 is also known by its aliases Navstar 2A-10 and Navstar 31. These alternative names reflect its identification within the NAVSTAR GPS satellite program.

## Why It Matters
USA-90 represents a critical component in the infrastructure of global positioning, navigation, and timing services that modern society relies on. GPS technology has revolutionized countless industries, including aviation, maritime navigation, surveying, transportation, and emergency response systems. The precise timing and positioning capabilities provided by satellites like USA-90 enable synchronization of communication networks, financial transactions, and power grid operations. Without these navigation satellites, modern logistics, military operations, and everyday applications like smartphone navigation would not function as they do today. USA-90's contribution to the GPS constellation ensures continued accuracy and reliability of these essential services worldwide.

## Notable For
- USA-90 was launched specifically to enhance the GPS constellation's coverage and accuracy
- It is part of the Block II/IIA series of GPS satellites, which represented an evolution in satellite navigation technology
- The satellite has been operational since 1993, providing nearly three decades of service
- USA-90 was manufactured by Rockwell International, a key contractor in the GPS satellite program
- The satellite uses precise atomic clocks to maintain the timing accuracy essential for GPS operations

## Body
### Basic Information
USA-90 is an American navigation satellite launched on March 30, 1993, as part of the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation. The satellite was officially designated USA-90, though it is also known by its aliases Navstar 2A-10 and Navstar 31. Its COSPAR ID is 1993-017A and it has the SCN number 22581.

### Launch and Operations
USA-90 was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17 using a Delta II expendable launch system. The satellite was manufactured by Rockwell International and has been operated by the United States Air Force since its deployment. As a GPS satellite, USA-90 is designed to provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing services to users worldwide.

### Technical Specifications
USA-90 belongs to the GPS satellite class, which forms the backbone of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System. The satellite was developed as part of the Block II/IIA series of GPS satellites, which featured improved capabilities over earlier models. Like all GPS satellites, USA-90 is equipped with atomic clocks that provide the timing accuracy essential for GPS operations. These clocks allow the satellite to broadcast signals that enable receivers to calculate their precise position by timing the signal's arrival from multiple satellites.

### Significance in the GPS Constellation
USA-90 represents one of many satellites that make up the GPS constellation, which has become an indispensable infrastructure for modern society. The GPS network provides global coverage with at least four satellites visible from any point on Earth at any given time. This constellation enables applications ranging from personal navigation to critical military operations, from surveying to emergency response. The continuous operation of satellites like USA-90 ensures the reliability and accuracy of GPS services that billions of people depend on daily.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report