SpaceX launched their Falcon 9 rocket with the third Block III Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, named SV03. Block III is the next generation of GPS satellites, replacing the aging Block II series. This will be SpaceX\u2019s second GPS launch, out of the five they have been awarded so far.<\/p>\n
This mission launched at the end of its 15 minute launch window at 16:10:46 EDT (20:10:46 UTC) on 30 June 2020 from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, and was completed successfully 90 minutes later with spacecraft separation. <\/p>\n
SV03 Launch<\/p>\n
SpaceX previously launched the maiden GPS Block III satellite, SV01, on a Falcon 9 in December 2018. SV01 was the first launch contract that SpaceX won in the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.<\/p>\n
In March 2017, SpaceX beat United Launch Alliance (ULA) to secure the launch contract for the third Block III satellite, SV03. At that time, the launch of SV03 was expected in early 2019.<\/p>\n
Although SV01 and SV03 have flown or will fly on a Falcon 9 Block 5, their mission profiles will be slightly different.<\/p>\n
For SV01\u2019s launch, the Air Force requested that the Falcon 9 fly in an expendable configuration to dedicate more performance to the satellite. This meant that the first stage \u2013 the new core B1054 \u2013 had to be expended on its first flight.<\/p>\n
For SV03, however, the Space Force \u2013 who now run the GPS program \u2013 gave SpaceX the go-ahead to set aside some vehicle performance to enable first stage recovery.<\/p>\n
Technology News (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n Because of the satellite\u2019s deployment orbit and relatively high mass \u2013 3.9 metric tons \u2013 the first stage will perform a ballistic landing. This will take place approximately 634km downrange, on SpaceX\u2019s droneship Just Read The Instructions.<\/em><\/p>\n