The launch of GPS III SV-08 — the eighth satellite in the GPS III constellation — was originally assigned to United Launch Alliance (ULA) but was switched to SpaceX as the military prioritizes getting advanced anti-jamming capabilities into orbit as quickly as possible.
This marks the second consecutive GPS III satellite to be switched from ULA to SpaceX, following December’s launch of GPS III SV-07.
Col. Andrew Menschner, commander of Mission Delta 31, explained the strategic rationale behind the push to get GPS III SV-08 on orbit quickly.
Looking ahead, Vulcan is still expected to handle the final two GPS III missions, along with the debut flight of the next-generation GPS IIIF satellite.
For now, said Lauderdale, there are no additional GPS launch reassignments planned.
WASHINGTON — SpaceX is preparing to provide the United States with a Global Positioning System satellite. S. military from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on May 30. This was another high-profile national security mission that used the Falcon 9 rocket instead of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan.
The military prioritizes getting cutting-edge anti-jamming capabilities into orbit as soon as possible, so SpaceX was chosen to launch GPS III SV-08, the eighth satellite in the GPS III constellation, instead of United Launch Alliance (ULA). The action was taken because nation-state actors and unintentional commercial interference are becoming more pervasive threats to GPS signals.
Following the launch of GPS III SV-07 in December, this is the second consecutive GPS III satellite to be moved from ULA to SpaceX. Vulcan, a ULA aircraft certified to launch national security missions, has a backlog of military launches and is still experiencing delays.
In order to get the more sophisticated GPS satellites into orbit, officials said the Space Force accelerated the schedule in collaboration with SpaceX and GPS manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
According to Space Force officials, the mission was carried out on an exceptionally accelerated timeline during a press conference on May 28. GPS III SV-08 launch preparations began in February, with SpaceX receiving a formal request on March 7 and Lockheed Martin on February 21 — just under three months before liftoff. They claimed that, given that a national security launch normally takes 18 to 24 months from contract award, that is an unusual pace.
The Global Positioning System is increasingly under threat, which is why it is urgent. Both commercial sources and adversarial nation-states have increased their efforts to jam and spoof GPS signals. Colonel. Mission Delta 31 commander Andrew Menschner outlined the strategic justification for the urgency with which GPS III SV-08 was put into orbit.
Menschner stated that 31 of the 38 GPS satellites currently in orbit are operational on a daily basis. “The constellation has a healthy redundancy. However, the constellation can now withstand attempts to tamper with GPS signals thanks to the addition of SV-08. “.”.
GPS that is more secure for both military and civilian users.
With almost eight times the anti-jamming capability of earlier models, the GPS III series is the most sophisticated satellite generation. The L5, a new civilian signal that uses a frequency band set aside for aviation safety, and M-code, a hardened, military-only signal, are also transmitted by these satellites.
The 19th satellite to transmit the L5 signal and the 26th with M-code capability will be SV-08. “GPS jamming and interference affect more than 1,100 commercial flights every day,” Menschner stated. When OCX is delivered later this fall, we hope to unlock that capability. “”.
The Operational Control Segment, or OCX ground system, is a crucial but long-delayed piece of infrastructure that will fully enable the M-code and L5 signals. It will improve civilian aviation safety and defense operations once it is operational.
Insights for the future.
GPS’s adaptable design helped the Space Force swiftly switch between launch providers. Menschner stated, “The GPS three program’s foresight in being qualified on multiple launch vehicle providers was our biggest advantage.”. We’re imparting that amazing lesson that we’ve learned. “”.
“The GPS III program is emerging as a model of how to build in agility,” he said, adding that this flexibility is not typical across the national security space fleet.
According to Walt Lauderdale, Space Systems Command’s mission director and chief of Falcon systems, SV-08 was initially scheduled for launch in late 2025. Therefore, he explained, “this allowed us to get the M-code up a little bit sooner.”.
The next-generation GPS IIIF satellite’s first flight and the last two GPS III missions are still anticipated to be handled by Vulcan. According to Lauderdale, no more GPS launch reassignments are currently scheduled.
