It was the third Block IIR GPS satellite to be launched, out of thirteen in the original configuration, and twenty one overall.

[2] USA-145 was launched at 12:51:01 UTC on 7 October 1999, atop a Delta II carrier rocket, flight number D275, flying in the 7925-9.5 configuration.

The satellite raised itself into medium Earth orbit using a Star-37FM apogee motor.

The satellite has a mass of 2,032 kilograms (4,480 lb), and a design life of 10 years.

GPS IIR-3 was originally intended to use satellite SVN-50; however, it was damaged during launch preparations in May 1999 after rainwater leaked into the cleanroom atop SLC-17A where the satellite was being attached to its rocket.