The newest third-generation International Positioning System (GPS) satellite tv for pc launched to orbit from Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station Monday night time. Not like earlier GPS missions although, the launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket marked a first-of-its-kind mission for the U.S. Area Pressure.
The launch, beforehand recognized merely as “RRT-1,” truly stands for “Fast Response Trailblazer.” Onboard was the GPS 3 Area Car (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 Middle “till its official acceptance into the present operational GPS 31-satellite constellation,” the corporate mentioned.
Initially, the spacecraft was scheduled to launch onboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The launch was considered one of 5 missions awarded to ULA as a part of order yr three for the Nationwide Safety Area Launch (NSSL) Part 2 contract.
Nevertheless, the Area Pressure’s Assured Entry to Area (AATS) continues to be working by way of knowledge related to the 2 certification flights of Vulcan and has not but accepted the rocket to start flying NSSL missions.
So as to get the satellite tv for pc and its capabilities on orbit in a extra expedited trend, a number of parts of the Area Pressure 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 Area Pressure’s capability to execute excessive precedence launches of main area techniques on a considerably diminished timescale,” mentioned Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel chief of Launch Execution for AATS. “As an additional benefit, it additionally demonstrates flexibility to regulate our manifest to attenuate the influence of Vulcan delays.
“On this case, revised planning for this RRT started at launch minus-five months as an alternative of our regular launch minus-24 months. It not solely demonstrates the groups’ capability to reply to emergent constellation wants however is a testomony to our flexibility and responsiveness to ship functionality as quickly as Area Car readiness permits. On this case, it’s not simply the warfighter, but in addition the nation and our allies around the globe that depend on GPS every day.”
The shortened timeframe not solely supplied logistical challenges for the Area Pressure, however for Lockheed Martin as properly. A part of the shift concerned figuring out how the GPS 3 SV-07 would make it from Lockheed Martin’s services in Littleton, Colorado, out to Florida.
Usually, a spacecraft like this could journey by air, however as a result of the everyday army plane that may 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 accordance 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 Techniques at Lockheed Martin in a press release. “Time is of the essence for nationwide safety missions, and we shortly delivered this essential functionality for the Area Pressure to help fast demand for safe, superior positioning, navigation, and timing alerts.”
Moreover, 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 area autos, together with SV07, are geared up with M-code. M-Code is a sophisticated, 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 a press release. “GPS III area autos present as much as eight instances extra anti-jamming energy than GPS II area autos, 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 Area Pressure leaders emphasised throughout the latest Area Pressure Affiliation’s Spacepower Convention as extremely necessary for the federal government: fast responsiveness in area.
In a post-launch assertion, Col. Andrew Menschner, the Mission Delta 31 mission commander, famous that the pivot diminished what is often a six-month processing window for a GPS 3 SV right down to about three months.
“This was a tremendous effort throughout a number of groups and companies,” Menschner mentioned. “This launch confirmed our capability to reply shortly to an operational want, corresponding to an on-orbit automobile failure of the GPS constellation, in addition to demonstrating our willingness to problem conventional timelines related to launches in response to a sensible 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 Journey,’ the primary American girl in area.
