A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched into space on Friday, May 30, carrying a critical GPS III satellite for the US Space Force despite thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area. The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral at 1:37 p.m., dodging raindrops to deploy the new satellite into medium-Earth orbit.
The GPS III-7 satellite is part of the next-generation system designed to improve resistance to jamming and cyberattacks, boost military signal strength, and add signals for civilian applications. Billions of devices worldwide rely on US Space Force-provided GPS signals, which are crucial for navigation, disaster response, and other technologies.
The launch marked the Falcon 9’s fourth flight, with the booster landing safely on a SpaceX drone ship after stage separation. The mission came just hours after a special marine warning was issued for the area due to strong winds, steep waves, and pea-sized hail.
This is not the first time SpaceX has faced inclement weather during a launch. In fact, the odds of bad weather remained 50-50 past liftoff, with meteorologists issuing warnings for a north-south swath across the Cape Canaveral area.
The Space Force mission follows other recent launches from the Eastern Range, including Starlink broadband satellites scheduled for an early morning launch on June 2.
Source: https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2025/05/30/spacex-launches-gps-iii-space-force-satellite-to-update-constellation-from-cape-canaveral-florida/83877234007