The newest third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite tv for pc launched to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Monday evening. Unlike earlier GPS missions although, the launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket marked a first-of-its-kind mission for the U.S. Space Force.
The launch, beforehand identified merely as “RRT-1,” really stands for “Rapid Response Trailblazer.” Onboard was the GPS 3 Space Vehicle (SV) 07 (GPS 3 SV-07). Lockheed Martin, the satellite tv for pc’s producer, confirmed profitable sign acquisition lower than two hours after the launch at 7:52 p.m. EST (0052 UTC).
The spacecraft will proceed to operation out of Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center “till its official acceptance into the present operational GPS 31-satellite constellation,” the corporate mentioned.
Originally, the spacecraft was scheduled to launch onboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The launch was one in every of 5 missions awarded to ULA as a part of order 12 months three for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract.
However, the Space Force’s Assured Access to Space (AATS) remains to be working by means of information linked to the 2 certification flights of Vulcan and has not but accepted the rocket to start flying NSSL missions.
In order to get the satellite tv for pc and its capabilities on orbit in a extra expedited trend, a number of parts of the Space Force and Lockheed Martin, the satellite tv for pc’s producer, labored to pivot from one rocket to a different in a relatively brief timeframe.
“This launch was a exceptional achievement that highlights the Space Force’s means to execute excessive precedence launches of main house programs on a considerably decreased timescale,” mentioned Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel chief of Launch Execution for AATS. “As an additional advantage, it additionally demonstrates flexibility to regulate our manifest to reduce the affect of Vulcan delays.
“In this case, revised planning for this RRT started at launch minus-five months as a substitute of our regular launch minus-24 months. It not solely demonstrates the groups’ means to answer emergent constellation wants however is a testomony to our flexibility and responsiveness to ship functionality as quickly as Space Vehicle readiness permits. In this case, it’s not simply the warfighter, but in addition the nation and our allies all over the world that depend on GPS every day.”
The shortened timeframe not solely offered logistical challenges for the Space Force, however for Lockheed Martin as nicely. Part of the shift concerned figuring out how the GPS 3 SV-07 would make it from Lockheed Martin’s amenities in Littleton, Colorado, out to Florida.
Normally, a spacecraft like this could journey by air, however as a result of the everyday army plane that will be used for such an operation had been tied up in response operations associated to Hurricane Milton, the satellite tv for pc needed to make a 2,337-mile trek by street. It arrived in Florida six days after departing Colorado, in keeping with Lockheed Martin.
“We supported our buyer’s imaginative and prescient for an accelerated launch of this GPS satellite tv for pc, finally serving to them obtain quick-turn operational readiness,” mentioned Malik Musawwir, vice chairman of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin in an announcement. “Time is of the essence for nationwide safety missions, and we shortly delivered this essential functionality for the Space Force to help fast demand for safe, superior positioning, navigation, and timing alerts.”
Additionally, the corporate mentioned a part of the pre-launch preparation work included equipping the spacecraft with a safe army code, known as an “M-code.”
“All GPS III house automobiles, together with SV07, are outfitted with M-code. M-Code is a complicated, new sign designed to enhance anti-jamming and anti-spoofing, in addition to enhance safe entry to army GPS alerts for U.S. and allied armed forces,” Lockheed Martin mentioned in an announcement. “GPS III house automobiles present as much as eight occasions extra anti-jamming energy than GPS II house automobiles, and M-code has been in operational acceptance since 2020.”
The comparatively quick pivot from one launch supplier to a different is an instance of what Space Force leaders emphasised in the course of the latest Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference as extremely essential for the federal government: fast responsiveness in house.
In a post-launch assertion, Col. Andrew Menschner, the Mission Delta 31 mission commander, famous that the pivot decreased what is generally a six-month processing window for a GPS 3 SV all the way down to about three months.
“This was a tremendous effort throughout a number of groups and businesses,” Menschner mentioned. “This launch confirmed our means to reply shortly to an operational want, similar to an on-orbit car failure of the GPS constellation, in addition to demonstrating our willingness to problem conventional timelines related to launches in response to a practical situation.”
The block three GPS satellites have a predicted lifespan of about 15 years. This sequence of spacecraft are nicknamed after well-known explorers and pioneers. SV-07 was named ‘Sally Ride,’ the primary American lady in house.
