The US Space Force is transferring the launch of a GPS III satellite from United Launch Alliance (ULA) to SpaceX in an effort to reduce a backlog of satellites waiting in storage. The GPS III SV-08 satellite, set to launch on May 1 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marks the second time in recent months that the Space Force has reassigned a GPS launch from ULA to SpaceX.
This move is part of a broader effort to accelerate launch timelines under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The goal is to demonstrate that planning cycles typically requiring two years can be compressed to just a few months. The transition involves modifying the payload interface – the hardware connecting the spacecraft to the rocket – to make it compatible with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 instead of ULA’s Vulcan.
The shift also comes as ULA’s Vulcan rocket faces development delays and has a backlog of military launches assigned under the NSSL Phase 2 contract awarded in 2020. To maintain contract obligations with launch providers, a future GPS launch previously assigned to SpaceX will be given back to ULA.
Lockheed Martin announced that the SV-08 spacecraft was delivered to Florida on April 2 and will undergo final processing before launch. The GPS III satellites represent the newest generation of the US global positioning system, offering enhanced accuracy, improved anti-jamming capabilities, and increased interoperability with international satellite navigation systems.
Source: https://spacenews.com/space-force-reassigns-gps-satellite-launch-from-ula-to-spacex