U.S. Space Force to Launch GPS 3-9 Satellite on SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket
The U.S. Space Force is launching its ninth GPS 3 satellite, designated GPS 3-9, into medium Earth orbit on January 26 at 11:42:23 p.m. EST using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The satellite, equipped with M-Code technology, aims to enhance positioning and navigation accuracy for military operations. The mission is overseen by the Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) and Combat Forces Command (CFC).
The launch was delayed a day due to weather concerns, with a 40 percent chance of favorable conditions. This mission marks the third instance where a GPS satellite was switched from a ULA Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9.
The GPS 3-9 payload is scheduled to deploy approximately 1.5 hours after liftoff. SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster B1096 is set for its fifth flight, landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' in the Atlantic Ocean after launch.
The satellite is named after Col. Ellison Onizuka, a NASA astronaut who died in the Challenger disaster.
