Despite looming thunderstorms and uncertain weather conditions, the United States successfully launched its newest GPS satellite Friday afternoon, marking another major step in the modernization of the nation's Global Positioning System.
Credit: SpaceX
The GPS III-7 satellite, designated Space Vehicle 08 (SV-08), was lifted into medium Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1:37 p.m. EDT. The launch came at the end of a 15-minute window and managed to dodge severe weather, which had posed a 55% chance of violating launch conditions earlier in the week.
The first stage of the Falcon 9, booster B1092, completed its fourth mission and landed successfully on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean just over eight minutes after liftoff. This marks the vessel’s 111th successful booster recovery and the 454th overall for SpaceX.
Launch Weather Officer Mark Burger had noted earlier in the week that although thunderstorms were likely, the timing of the launch helped avoid the worst of the conditions. “The time of day worked in our favor,” Burger said, citing a break in weather patterns during early afternoon hours.
The Falcon 9 featured a distinctive gray thermal band on its second stage—a design element implemented for missions requiring extended coast phases, especially those traversing between sunlight and shadow. Walt Lauderdale, Mission Director at Space Systems Command, praised the development as the product of a strong, evolving collaboration between SpaceX and the
government.
Seen here prior to being sealed in its shipping container at Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado facility, SV08 will join the U.S. Space Force’s operational GPS constellation in orbit. Image: Lockheed Martin.
SV-08’s launch follows closely behind the December launch of SV-07, a mission known internally as the Rapid Response Trailblazer (RRT-1). That effort, expedited due to scheduling issues with the United Launch Alliance (ULA)’s Vulcan rocket, demonstrated that national security satellite missions could be accelerated from traditional 18–24 month timelines down to just five—and now even three—months.
"This is simply the next evolution of what we started with RRT-1," said Col. Andrew Menschner, commander of Mission Delta 31 at Peterson Space Force Base. “Every launch shortens our response time and boosts our resilience.”
Lockheed Martin, the GPS III satellite manufacturer, received the activation order for SV-08 on Feb. 21, and SpaceX was formally tasked with the launch on March 7—setting the stage for one of the fastest turnaround GPS missions to date.
Malik Musawwir, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Navigation Systems, said improved coordination and flexible planning were key. “Every step of the way, we’re looking for ways to test faster, integrate better, and launch sooner,” Musawwir explained.
The newly deployed SV-08 satellite enhances the GPS constellation’s resiliency and performance, particularly in military applications. It carries the M-Code signal—an encrypted feature designed to resist jamming and spoofing. With SV-08, there are now 26 M-Code capable satellites in orbit. The Space Force has determined that at least 27 are needed to meet critical accuracy and availability benchmarks.
Two additional GPS III satellites, SV-09 and SV-10, remain in storage at Lockheed Martin’s Colorado facility. Both are expected to launch aboard ULA’s Vulcan rocket, although exact launch dates remain uncertain. SV-09 has been cleared for flight since August 2022 but is still waiting its turn behind other national security missions.
Even while on the ground, these satellites play a key strategic role. “One form of resilience is having a completed vehicle in the factory and ready to go,” Col. Menschner said. “We don’t always need it in orbit for it to contribute to our overall GPS capability.”
With the GPS III program qualified across multiple launch providers, the Space Force retains flexibility in rapidly deploying critical space assets. Menschner emphasized the importance of that adaptability, especially in an era of growing global threats and technological competition.
“We’re ready to go whenever the call comes,” he said. “The faster we can launch, the stronger and more resilient our GPS infrastructure becomes.”
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