A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 2:53 a.m. Tuesday from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying the GPS III-8 SV 10 satellite into orbit. The mission, managed by the U.S. Space Force, is the 10th and final satellite in the Lockheed Martin-built GPS III series. The satellite is part of a program designed to modernize the Global Positioning System, providing improved accuracy and security for civilian and military users.
The launch followed a 15-minute window opening at 2:53 a.m., with the rocket traveling northeast after liftoff. Clear skies allowed residents north of Cape Canaveral to view the ascent, though no sonic booms were reported in Brevard County. The Falcon 9's first-stage booster landed on a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, as planned.
USSF Col. Ryan Hiserote, GPS III mission director, called the satellite "the gold standard for global navigation," emphasizing its role in ensuring service for billions of users and providing a "tactical edge for our war fighters." The satellite's deployment completes the GPS III constellation, which will be replaced by the next-generation IIIF (3F) series.
This mission marked the shortest turnaround time between GPS III satellite launches, with the previous satellite (GPS III SV 9) launched in January. Hiserote noted the GPS program's efficiency, stating it was "our privilege to help deliver this final satellite before the next generation begins its journey to orbit." The satellite will now undergo testing before joining the existing GPS network.