SpaceX successfully launches GPS III satellite for US Space Force
SpaceX has launched GPS III for the US Space Force. This is the second latest-generation GPS satellite launched for the US military this year. The first was brought into orbit in June and became the third GPS III launched by SpaceX. Such satellites provide the United States with improved GPS navigation capabilities, including advanced anti-jamming technology.
SpaceX used an all-new Falcon 9 first stage for this launch and successfully returned this booster using a guided landing on its unmanned barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The company also confirmed that the payload was deployed as intended and then flew to the deployment point where the GPS spacecraft was placed into the final orbit.
Launched from the Cape Canaveral Cosmodrome in Florida, the mission was the second attempt to deliver this payload after the launch was canceled in September due to an early start of two engines, which caused an automatic shutdown two seconds before takeoff. SpaceX investigated the problem and found that this was due to the ingestion of a coating material used to protect engine components in the production process in the fuel lines.
SpaceX has also postponed the launch of the crewed Crew-1 mission for NASA because of this, so today’s launch should be further confirmation that the historic flight of the current ISS crew, consisting of three American astronauts and one Japanese, will take place as planned on November 14. , and there will be no new delays.
