It was the seventh of twelve Block IIF satellites to be launched.

[3] The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,[5] and placed USA-256 directly into medium Earth orbit.

[4] As of 3 August 2014, USA-256 was in an orbit with a perigee of 20,341 kilometers (12,639 mi), an apogee of 20,469 kilometers (12,719 mi), a period of 727.05 minutes, and 55.02 degrees of inclination to the equator.

[4] It is used to broadcast the PRN 09 signal, and operates in slot 6 of plane F of the GPS constellation.

The satellite has a design life of 12 years and a mass of 1,630 kilograms (3,590 lb).