SpaceX successfully launches GPS III space vehicle for the U.S. Space Force
SpaceX used a brand new Falcon 9 first-stage on this launch, and effectively recovered that rocket booster utilizing a controlled landing on its drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. The company also verified that its payload accomplished excellent orbit, and it’s now in the process of making its way to the deployment point where it can release the GPS spacecraft for its final orbital insertion.
SpaceX likewise postponed its upcoming Crew-1 launch for NASA to solve the concern, so today’s launch must be another peace of mind that key, history-making flight of a functional ISS team made up of three NASA and one JAXA astronaut will proceed as prepared on November 14, barring any other delays.
This mission flew from Cape Canaveral in Florida, and was the 2nd effort at providing this payload, after an effort at the start of September was scrubbed due to an early start-up of 2 engines that caused an auto-shutdown of the launch series two seconds prior to liftoff. SpaceX examined the problem and discovered that it was due to some trace quantities of a masking material used to safeguard engine elements making their way into fuel lines. That triggered a modification in its engine production and examination procedure.
SpaceX has introduced a GPS III satellite on behalf of client the U.S. Space Force, the second GPS III generation satellite it has launched for the U.S. military this year. The very first took off in June, and was the third total GPS III put in orbit by SpaceX. This is the 4th, and will offer better GPS navigation abilities to the U.S., consisting of enhanced jamming technology to protect versus interference.