SpaceX sends advanced GPS satellite into orbit on fast-track mission

SpaceX launched a next-generation GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force on May 30, completing mission preparations in just under three months — a record turnaround for a national security payload.

The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 1:37 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the GPS III SV-08 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, Caliber.Az reports, citing the company.

The mission broke previous records, as such launches typically take 18 to 24 months to prepare, according to Space Force officials.

“This launch highlights our growing ability to respond rapidly to urgent constellation needs,” said Col. Jim Horne of the Space Force.

About eight and a half minutes after launch, the Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the fourth flight for the reusable booster. The rocket’s upper stage continued carrying the satellite to orbit, with deployment scheduled approximately 90 minutes after liftoff.

GPS III SV-08 is the eighth in a planned series of 10 advanced GPS satellites offering up to three times better accuracy and significantly greater resistance to jamming—vital features amid growing threats in space. The satellite is named after NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the "hidden figures" who contributed to early U.S. spaceflight missions.

While United Launch Alliance (ULA) was originally slated to launch SV-07 and SV-08 aboard its Vulcan Centaur rocket, both missions were reassigned to SpaceX. SV-07 was launched in December 2024 after five months of preparation—a record now surpassed by SV-08’s three-month timeline.

The GPS constellation currently includes 31 operational satellites, with seven more in reserve. Two more GPS III spacecraft are expected to launch within the next year.

Looking ahead, Space Force officials say they aim to cut preparation times even further, adapting to the increasing urgency and strategic importance of space-based systems.

By Tamilla Hasanova