A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a US military Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, named Rapid Response Trailblazer-1 (RRT-1), on December 16, sending it to a medium orbit about 12,000 miles above Earth. The mission, dubbed “trailblazer,” aimed to demonstrate the ability to condense a typical two-year mission planning cycle to less than six months.
The launch was originally scheduled for December 13 but was delayed due to high winds. This was SpaceX’s 126th launch of 2024. Eight minutes after lift-off, the first-stage booster successfully landed on a drone ship, and the payload continued towards its destination.
The GPS III SV-07 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, was previously slated for a late 2025 launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket but was reassigned to SpaceX. The US Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program (NSSL) aimed to demonstrate responsiveness to operator needs with this mission.
Col. James Horne, senior materiel leader for launch execution, stated that the move was less about Vulcan delays and more about testing the NSSL program’s flexibility. This accelerated launch showcased the space force’s ability to adapt in response to uncertainty.
The US Space Force has previously launched “tactically responsive” space missions using small satellites and small launch vehicles. The RRT-1 mission aimed to prove that rapid deployment can be applied to larger, more complex national security payloads like GPS.
Col. Andrew Menschner highlighted the importance of testing the ability to respond quickly to unexpected technical failures in the GPS constellation. The US Space Force is eager to update its constellation with new satellites, as many are older than military personnel who manage them daily.
Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-u-s-space-force-rapid-response-gps-mission