SpaceX To Launch GPS 3 Satellite After Rocket Switch
Synopsis
SpaceX GPS launch successfully delivered the ninth third-generation navigation satellite to orbit Tuesday night after the U.S. Space Force moved the mission from a ULA Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9. The GPS satellite deployed 1.5 hours after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, marking the third time the Space Force has switched these satellites from Vulcan to SpaceX. Officials cited a heavily congested Vulcan schedule as the reason for the change. The Falcon 9 booster landed successfully on a drone ship, completing its fifth flight in SpaceX's second national security launch of 2026.
A SpaceX GPS mission delivered the ninth third-generation navigation satellite into orbit Tuesday night after the U.S. Space Force transferred the spacecraft from a ULA Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9. The satellite was successfully deployed about 1.5 hours after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking the third time the Space Force has reassigned one of these GPS missions from Vulcan to SpaceX, a move that continues to highlight scheduling and delay concerns.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:53 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, January 27. The launch had been postponed from January 25 as SpaceX monitored recovery weather conditions, followed by another delay that pushed the attempt from Monday night to Tuesday. Forecasts ultimately showed a 95 per cent chance of favourable weather for the final launch window.
The satellite, known as Space Vehicle 09 (SV09), carries advanced M-Code technology designed to provide more precise and jam-resistant navigation signals for military users. After separating cleanly from the Falcon 9 upper stage, SV09 began its journey to join the global GPS constellation relied upon by billions of people for navigation and timing services.
Third Mission Reassigned From Vulcan to Falcon
This mission represents the third GPS satellite the Space Force has moved from ULA’s Vulcan rocket to SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Under the National Security Space Launch contract, ULA and SpaceX were originally awarded GPS missions valued at $4.5 billion and $4 billion respectively.
ULA had initially been slated to launch GPS 3-7, GPS 3-8, and GPS 3-9 on Vulcan. All three have since been reassigned to SpaceX, with ULA receiving other missions in return. Space Force officials cited a congested Vulcan launch schedule as the primary reason, noting that switching to Falcon 9 allowed critical navigation capabilities to reach orbit sooner.
Mission Details and Booster Recovery
The Falcon 9 first-stage booster, B1096, completed its fifth flight, having previously supported missions such as NASA’s IMAP, classified national security payloads, and Starlink launches. About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster landed successfully on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked SpaceX’s 564th successful booster landing and its second national security launch of 2026.
Vulcan Certification and Future Missions
A spokesperson for the Space Force’s System Delta 80 emphasised the importance of adaptability. With Vulcan’s manifest heavily loaded, collaboration with launch providers enabled a solution that balanced contractual obligations with the urgency of deploying critical capabilities. Still, officials acknowledged that switching launch vehicles can trigger contractual delay penalties, though no specific details were disclosed.
When the first GPS satellite was reassigned in December 2024, Vulcan had not yet completed its certification for national security launches, which came in March 2025. ULA’s next planned mission, USSF-87, is scheduled for no earlier than February 2. Meanwhile, the GPS 3-8 satellite (SV10) has been transported to Florida and remains assigned to Vulcan, though no launch date has been announced.
Honouring a Fallen Astronaut
In keeping with GPS tradition, SV09 is named in honour of Colonel Ellison Onizuka, a U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut who flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C. Onizuka later lost his life in the Challenger disaster during STS-51-L nearly 40 years ago, lending special significance to this mission.
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