{"id":9635,"date":"2026-01-26T18:26:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T10:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-launches-gps-3-satellite-following-switch-from-ula-vulcan-rocket\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T18:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T10:26:30","slug":"spacex-launches-gps-3-satellite-following-switch-from-ula-vulcan-rocket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-launches-gps-3-satellite-following-switch-from-ula-vulcan-rocket\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX launches GPS 3 satellite following switch from ULA Vulcan rocket"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_72440\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72440\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72440\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_JP-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_JP-1.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_JP-1-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72440\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin the GPS 3-9 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 27, 2026. Image: John Pisani\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em><strong>Update Jan. 28, 1:40 a.m. EST (0640 UTC): SpaceX confirms deployment of the GPS satellite.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Update Jan. 26, 12 p.m. EST (1700 UTC): SpaceX delayed the mission roughly 24 hours.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Space Force sent its ninth third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite into medium Earth orbit on Tuesday night. The satellite rode to space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after the government moved the spacecraft from a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket.<\/p>\n<p>The mission, named GPS 3-9, saw the GPS 3 Space Vehicle 09 (SV09) payload deploy from the rocket\u2019s upper stage nearly 1.5 hours after liftoff. This latest positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite is equipped with what the Space Force calls M-Code technology, which it calls critical to \u201cprovide the warfighter with a significantly more accurate and jam-resistant capability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Two field commands were overseeing the mission: the Space Force\u2019s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Combat Forces Command (CFC). SSC\u2019s System Delta 80 (SYD 80) helps manage the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, the procurement process for launch vehicles; and CFC\u2019s Mission Delta 31 is responsible for pre-launch satellite processing alongside Lockheed Martin, the satellite\u2019s manufacturer.<\/p>\n<p>Departure from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 11:53:16 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 27 (0453:16 UTC on Jan. 28). The launch was delayed a day from Jan. 25, with SpaceX stating in a tweet that it was \u201ckeeping an eye on recovery weather.\u201d The mission was delayed again from Monday night to Tuesday with the 45th Weather Squadron forecasting just a 40 percent chance for acceptable weather on Monday.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gLtxlG9cwpQ\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For Tuesday\u2019s launch opportunity, the 45th Weather Squadron forecast a 95 percent chance for favorable weather during the 15-minute launch window. Meteorologists are tracking the major winter storm moving across parts of the country, which will bring a \u201cstrong cold front\u201d to Florida, expected to clear out well in advance of Tuesday\u2019s launch window.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn Tuesday, winds at both the launch site and recovery area will decrease as high pressure pushes into the Southeast, relaxing the pressure gradient,\u201d launch weather officers wrote. \u201cThis will allow for very favorable launch conditions, with the only concern being the negligible risk of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_72441\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72441\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72441\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_AB-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_AB-1.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260127_GPS_III-9_liftoff_AB-1-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72441\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin the GPS 3-9 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 27, 2026. Image: Adam Bernstein\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>SpaceX launched this mission using the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1096. This was its fifth flight after previously launching NASA\u2019s IMAP ride share, NROL-77, Kuiper Falcon 01 (KF-01) and the Starlink 6-87 missions.<\/p>\n<p>A little more than 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1096 landed on the drone ship, \u2018A Shortfall of Gravitas,\u2019 positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 141st landing on that vessel and the 564th booster landing for SpaceX to date.<\/p>\n<p>It was also SpaceX\u2019s second national security flight of the year, after launching the NROL-105 mission on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office on Jan. 16.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_72427\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72427\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72427\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260126_GPS_III_9_mission_patch.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260126_GPS_III_9_mission_patch.png 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260126_GPS_III_9_mission_patch-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260126_GPS_III_9_mission_patch-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72427\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SpaceX-designed mission patch for the GPS 3-9 mission. Graphic: SpaceX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Spacecraft shuffle<\/h4>\n<p>The GPS 3-9 mission marks the third time that the Space Force opted to move one of these satellites from a Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9. Both ULA and SpaceX were awarded a series of GPS missions as part of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract, which was awarded to the two companies for $4.5 billion and $4 billion respectively.<\/p>\n<p>By the time all missions were assigned, ULA was tasked with the launches of the GPS 3-7, GPS 3-8 and GPS 3-9 missions. SpaceX meanwhile was awarded the GPS 3-10 and GPS 3F-1, the latter of which is the first launch of a GPS 3 Follow-on satellite.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_68222\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-68222\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-68222\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241216_RRT-1_launch_MC-1-678x452.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241216_RRT-1_launch_MC-1-678x452.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241216_RRT-1_launch_MC-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241216_RRT-1_launch_MC-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/20241216_RRT-1_launch_MC-1.jpeg 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-68222\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket cruises by a nearly full Moon during the RRT-1 mission on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. Image: Michael Cain\/Spaceflight Now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Things shifted for the first time when the Space Force\u2019s Space Systems Command (SSC) made the decision to pull forward the launch of the GPS 3 SV07 satellite and launched it on a Falcon 9 rocket under the mission name Rapid Response Trailerblazer (aka GPS 3-10) in December 2024. In exchange, ULA was tasked with the launch of the GPS 3 SV10 spacecraft on Vulcan.<\/p>\n<p>Another swap happened last year when SpaceX was called to launch the GPS 3-7 mission, which flew the GPS 3 SV08 spacecraft in May 2025. In exchange, ULA was given the GPS 3F-1 mission, which will carry the GPS 3F SV11 spacecraft.<\/p>\n<p>According to SSC\u2019s System Delta 80, based at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, here\u2019s the breakdown of the currently assigned GPS satellites:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>GPS 3- 9 (SV09) \u2013 SpaceX Falcon 9<\/li>\n<li>GPS 3-8 (SV10) \u2013 ULA Vulcan<\/li>\n<li>GPS 3F-1 (SV11) \u2013 ULA Vulcan<\/li>\n<li>GPS 3F-2 (SV12) \u2013 ULA Vulcan<\/li>\n<li>GPS 3F-3 (SV13) \u2013 ULA Vulcan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cFor this launch, we traded a GPS 3 mission from a Vulcan to a Falcon 9, then exchanged a later GPS 3F mission from a Falcon Heavy to a Vulcan,\u201d said USSF Col. Ryan Hiserote, SYD 80 Commander and NSSL program manager. \u201cOur commitment to keeping things flexible \u2013 programmatically and contractually \u2013 means that we can pivot when necessary to changing circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a proven ability to adapt the launch manifest to complex and dynamic factors and are continuing to shorten our timelines for delivering critical capabilities to warfighters.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_72160\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-72160\" style=\"width: 678px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-72160\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260113_GPS_III_SV10_transport.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"678\" height=\"451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260113_GPS_III_SV10_transport.jpeg 678w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260113_GPS_III_SV10_transport-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 678px) 100vw, 678px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-72160\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On January 6, 2026, GPS 3 Space Vehicle 10 was loaded aboard a C-17 Globemaster 3 at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. The GPS constellation remains one of the most widely relied-upon capabilities fielded by the Department of Defense, supporting global joint operations and enabling essential services across aviation, communications, finance, agriculture, scientific research, and countless everyday technologies. Image: U.S. Space Force\/Staff Sgt. Amanda Flower)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When the SV07 satellite was launched in December 2024, Vulcan was a couple of months past its second flight on its path towards becoming certified to launch national security payloads. That government certification didn\u2019t come until March 2025, just a couple months before the SV08 launch in May.<\/p>\n<p>Spaceflight Now asked SSC whether the decision to launch SV09 on a Falcon 9 rocket was done to \u201cminimize the impact of Vulcan delays,\u201d as was stated following the launch of SV07. A spokesperson for SLD 80 said the decision was made in order to get the GPS capability on orbit faster.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur capability to adapt the manifest is a critical component that keeps us flexible to the complex and dynamic factors of launch operations&nbsp;and warfighter priorities,\u201d an SYD 80 spokesperson said. \u201cIn this case, the Vulcan manifest was heavily congested, and the collaboration and partnership with our launch service providers allowed us to find a path forward that balanced contracted mission assignments against the priority to bolster critical capabilities for the Joint Force.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During a media roundtable with members of SSC on Jan. 22, Col. Eric Zarybnisky, the program executive officer of SSC\u2019s Assured Access to Space (AATS), said \u2014 without going into detail \u2014 that there are some consequences for needing to switch launch vehicles multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are delay penalties that are associated with the contract,\u201d Zarybnisky said.<\/p>\n<p>ULA\u2019s next announced launch is the flight of the USSF-87 mission \u2014 unrelated to the GPS constellation \u2014 which is scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 2. On Jan. 6, 2026, the Space Force published photos of the SV10 spacecraft being loaded onto a transport plane at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado to be flown to Florida for prelaunch processing, though a launch date hasn\u2019t been announced.<\/p>\n<p>As is the case with all GPS satellites, SV09 is named for an explorer who contributed to the fabric of the country. This spacecraft is named for Col. Ellison Onizuka, a U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut, who successfully flew onboard space shuttle <i>Discovery <\/i>on STS 51-C and perished as a member of the STS-51-L mission in the shuttle <i>Challenger<\/i> disaster, 40 years ago this week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin the GPS 3-9 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 27, 2026. Image: John Pisani\/Spaceflight Now Update Jan. 28, 1:40 a.m. EST (0640 UTC): SpaceX confirms deployment of the GPS satellite. Update Jan. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[673,743,479,843,675,676,316,560],"class_list":["post-9635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-asog","tag-b1096","tag-falcon-9","tag-gps-iii-sv09","tag-slc-40","tag-sld-45","tag-spacex","tag-u-s-space-force"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9635"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9635\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}