Seventh Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite launches

The seventh Lockheed Martin-designed and -built Global Positioning System (GPS) III space vehicle, GPS III SV07, was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, into orbit 12,550 miles above earth.

GPS III SV07, launched on an accelerated timeline, joins the Space Force’s ongoing modernization of the GPS constellation, following GPS III SV06 launched in 2023.

The spacecraft is under operational control at Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center until its official acceptance into the current operational GPS 31-satellite constellation.

The spacecraft, assembled at Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado, facility, traveled across the country via ground transport to its launch site in Florida. This is different than the typical air transport for these missions, since its standard military aircraft ride was engaged in hurricane tracking and relief efforts.

The team seamlessly changed gears to a road shipment on short notice, which helped the mission maintain its rapid launch schedule in the face of shifting aircraft availability. The Space Force time from call-up to launch for SV07 was reduced to about three months to demonstrate operational agility for launch of critical national security missions.

Lockheed Martin’s spacecraft team carefully mapped out the approximately 2,337-mile route, and carefully monitored weather models, as Hurricane Milton was on track to pass through Florida around the time of the spacecraft’s arrival.

After an epic, six-day road trip, SV07 arrived at its destination, avoiding severe weather and undergoing final checks and preparation for launch.

“We supported our customer’s vision for an accelerated launch of this GPS satellite, ultimately helping them achieve quick-turn 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 for the Space Force to support rapid demand for secure, advanced positioning, navigation, and timing signals.”

The first-of-its-kind National Security Space Launch (NSSL) class mission lifted the GPS-III space vehicle to orbit on a rapid response schedule, demonstrating a new level of readiness and resilience for Space Systems Command and Space Operations Command in less than five months from conception to launch. In partnership with SpaceX, a Falcon 9 rocket launched this NSSL mission.

“The launch and spacecraft teams quickly aligned to execute this campaign and demonstrated the resiliency, communication, and teamwork necessary to resolve schedule and technical challenges without compromising mission success,” said Dr. Walt Lauderdale, chief of Falcon Systems and Operations, and mission director for this launch. “This partnership is an example of new and faster ways we can deliver launch in support of future warfighter needs. The Space Force quickly energized multiple organizations, and the joint team delivered a specific, important mission to orbit in record time.”

“This was an amazing effort across multiple teams and agencies,” said Col. Andrew Menschner, the Space Force mission commander. “This launch showed our ability to respond quickly to an operational need, such as an on-orbit vehicle failure of the GPS constellation, as well as demonstrating our willingness to challenge traditional timelines associated with launches in response to a realistic scenario.”

All GPS III space vehicles, including SV07, are equipped with M-code, an advanced, new signal designed to improve anti-jamming and anti-spoofing, as well as increase secure access to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied armed forces. GPS III space vehicles provide up to eight times more anti-jamming power than GPS II space vehicles, 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 powering global financial markets, transportation, utilities, agriculture, construction, and ride-share services.