SpaceX will launch the U.S. Space Force's GPS III-5 atop A flight-proven Falcon 9 for the first time

SpaceX is scheduled launch the U.S. Space Force’s fifth third-generation series NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite, known as GPS-III Space Vehicle 05 (SV05/GPS III-5) next week. Last year, company deployed the third GPS III Space Vehicle 03 (SV03/GPS III-3) in June 2020 and the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 (SV04/GPS III-4) in November 2020. SpaceX will reuse the same rocket booster that launched the GPS III-4 satellite. This mission will be the first under the Space Force National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to use a flight-proven Falcon 9 booster.

Refurbishing Falcon 9’s first-stage booster to reuse on the GPS missions saved the government approximately $64 million. “I am thrilled to welcome SpaceX’s innovative reuse into the National Security Space Launch program,” said Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, in September 2020 after signing the agreement to launch NSSL program payload aboard previously-flown Falcon 9 boosters. Today, the booster underwent a routine engine ignition pre-flight check, meant to ensure the booster is ready for liftoff from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. –“Falcon 9 static fire complete—targeting Thursday, June 17 [12:09 p.m. EDT] for launch of GPS III-5 from SLC-40 in Florida,” SpaceX announced.

Falcon 9 first stage supporting this mission previously launched GPS III-4 in November 2020 pic.twitter.com/3iODjIbg1Y

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 12, 2021

The $500 million GPS III-5 satellite is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, designed to upgrade the United States' GPS navigation constellation that is currently comprised of 33 satellites. The upgraded satellite system features cross-links that enables the GPS III series satellites to communicate with one another and use a single ground station. GPS III-5 will be deployed by Falcon 9 into a semi-synchronous Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). The satellite will operate in an altitude of approximately 20,200 kilometers (12,550 miles) above Earth. Each satellite circles the Earth twice a day to provide time and positioning services globally for the military, as well as civilian users. The GPS satellites send signals to airplanes, vehicles on the road, bank ATMs, and most computerized systems. The U.S Space Force says the upgraded GPS III satellites will aid with new civil and warfighting capabilities by 2023 – “GPS delivers the gold standard of space-based positioning, navigation, and timing services vital to U.S. and allied operations worldwide, and underpins critical financial, transportation, and agricultural infrastructure that more than four billion users have come to depend on daily.”

U.S. Space Force’s fifth new-generation series NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite, known as GPS-III Space Vehicle 05 (SV05/GPS III-5). / Image Source: Lockheed Martin