Falcon 9: GPS-III SV-01 (DoD mission)

[Dr Mordrid]

Next-Gen GPS with 3x the accuracy and 8x the resistance to jamming.

Satellite: GPS III SV-01
Launch date: December 18, 2018
Launch time: 0924-0950 Eastern (1424-1450 GMT)
Pad LC-40
Booster: B1054.1
Recovery: expendable

Why expendable? Guesses run from (1) DoD wanting huge performance margins, (2) there being an unannounced secondary payload, to (3) DoD running tests to see what Block 5's limits are after the primary payload is deployed.

GPS III: US Air Force Partnership with SpaceX

Space and Missile Systems Center Los Angeles AFB
Published on Nov 7, 2018

Col. Steve Whitney, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center's Global Positioning Systems Directorate provides a preview of the upcoming launch of the "First of Firsts" with the latest series of satellites: GPS III SV-01. Also affectionately known as "Vespucci," in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci, for whom the American continents are named, this GPS III satellite is scheduled for its mid-December debut, lifting off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Just as important is the teamwork and partnerships across the entire space enterprise, from SMC's Launch Enterprise Directorate to satellite manufacturer Lockheed Martin and launch provider SpaceX.[/b]

[Dr Mordrid]

GPS III: US Air Force GPS Modernization

Space and Missile Systems Center Los Angeles AFB
Published on Nov 7, 2018

Here's the next segment in the Space and Missile Systems Center's continuing series of background videos on GPS III that answers the question, "How do you use it?"

Mr. David Madden, a retired Air Force colonel and former director of SMC's Global Positioning System Directorate, describes how the upcoming modernization of the GPS III-series of position, navigation and timing (PNT) satellites and the future role and impact it will play in everyone's daily lives.

Featuring cutting-edge graphics and file footage from industry partners Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado and SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, this segment also covers the excitement and team partnerships for the first National Security Space launch of a GPS national asset on SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX ✔ @SpaceX
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete targeting December 18 launch of GPS III SV01 from Pad 40 in Florida.
12:24 AM - Dec 14, 2018

[Dr Mordrid]

[Dr Mordrid]

SpaceX update

New T-0 of 9:34 EST, 14:34 UTC, to account for upper level winds. Launch webcast will go live about 15 minutes before liftoff



Again, no recovery. USAF wants maximum margins to evaluate F9 Block 5's max capabilities as SpaceX looks to be getting all the GPS III launches which are up for bid (a few aren't.)

Re-use certification later.

[Dr Mordrid]

Abort (flight computer triggered) & Scrub. Ran out of window after the wind delay.

Try again tomorrow.

[Dr Mordrid]

@SpaceX
Team is working toward launch of GPS III SV01 tomorrow, December 20. Weather remains a challenge; currently forecasted at 20% favorable during the 26-minute launch window which opens at 9:03 a.m. EST, 14:03 UTC.

New webcast link for Thursday

[Dr Mordrid]

Scrubbed again, this time tornado warnings around the range. That'll do it.


SpaceX ✔ @SpaceX
Now targeting December 22 launch of GPS III SV01. Weather is 80% favorable for the launch window which opens at 8:55 a.m. EST, 13:55 UTC.
10:42 AM - Dec 20, 2018