Gps Iii Satellite Launch Schedule

Hopes of seeing four falcon 9 rockets launch within a single calendar month have evaporated following spacex s decision to postpone its starlink blacksky rideshare flight by a few days this puts a high profile air force mission to launch the third global positioning system gps block iii timing and navigation satellite in pole position to wrap up an action packed june.

Gps iii satellite launch schedule.

Los angeles air force base calif. Falcon 9 block 5. The request for proposal rfp for launch services was published in june 2017 and proposals were due in august 2017. Lockheed martin designed developed and manufactured the gps iii non flight satellite testbed gnst and all ten block iii satellites.

The launch today will add another gps iii satellite to the space force s existing in space gps assets which include three already on orbit with another set to be deployed in 2022. The united states space force s space and missile systems center smc has decided to reschedule the launch of gps iii sv03 gps iii 3 from cape canaveral air force station to minimize the potential of covid 19 exposure to the launch crew and early orbit operators. Sv04 is the fourth gps iii satellite to launch and the third to launch on a falcon 9 excluding one spacecraft which launched on the final flight of the delta iv medium rocket. Launch services for sv04 through sv06 were to be.

Air force launched december 23 2018. Lockheed martin s gps iii satellites will have three times better accuracy and up to eight times improved anti jamming capabilities. Gps iii sv03 is now ready to be rolled out to its pad at space launch complex 40 where it will be mated with the spacex falcon 9 rocket. Gps iii sv04 77 space vehicle manufacturing contract awarded january 2012.

October 3 2020 spacex aborts liftoff of gps satellite continuing streak of launch scrubs falcon 9 october 3 2020 antares rocket takes aim on space station with zero gravity toilet. The first satellite in the series was launched in december 2018. Undergoing thermal vacuum testing in december 2018. Sending into orbit the gps iii sv04 satellite for the space force.

The tenth and final gps block iii launch is projected in q2 2023. The impact to cost and launch schedule was minimal. Date rocket launch site satellite svn remarks 2 3 october 2020 utc. The 15 minute launch window opens at 3 55 p m.