The seventh Global Positioning System (GPS) III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin, GPS III SV07, has been launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, into orbit 12.550 miles above Earth.
GPS III SV07 was launched on an accelerated schedule and s the ongoing modernization of the Space Force’s GPS constellation, following GPS III SV06, which was launched in 2023.
The team has completed signal acquisition from GPS III SV07, and the spacecraft is now under operational control at Lockheed Martin's Launch Operations and Checkout Center in Denver pending its official acceptance into the current operational GPS 31 satellite constellation.
The Path to a Rapid Launch
The spacecraft, assembled at Lockheed Martin's facility in Littleton, Colorado, traveled across the country via ground transportation to its launch site in Florida. This is different from the typical air transport for such missions, as its standard flight on military aircraft was used for hurricane tracking and disaster relief efforts.
The Lockheed Martin spacecraft team carefully mapped the approximately 2.337-mile route and carefully monitored weather models as Hurricane Milton was on its way to Florida at the time of the spacecraft's arrival.
After a six-day journey, SV07 reached its final destination, avoiding severe weather conditions and undergoing final checks and preparation for launch.
“We ed our customer’s vision for an accelerated launch of this GPS satellite, ultimately helping them achieve rapid turnaround operational readiness,” said Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Time is of the essence for national security missions, and we quickly delivered this critical capability to the Space Force to the rapid demand for advanced, secure positioning, navigation and timing signals.”
An additional satellite with a secure military code
All GPS III spacecraft, including SV07, are equipped with M-code. M-code is a new, advanced signal designed to improve anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities, as well as increase secure access to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied militaries. GPS III spacecraft provide up to eight times more anti-jamming power than GPS II spacecraft, and M-code has been in operational acceptance since 2020.
GPS satellites provide essential navigation for U.S. military assets, operational troops and field supply deliveries, while also powering global financial markets, transportation, utilities, agriculture, construction and ride-sharing services.
Via Lockheed Martin
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