US Space Force pivots GPS III-8 to SpaceX, expediting national GPS delivery
TL;DR
The U.S. Space Force’s Space Access and SYD 80 teams have swapped the GPS III-8 mission from United Launch Alliance to SpaceX, with a Falcon 9 now set to deliver the final GPS III SV-10 to orbit no earlier than late April from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. ULA will instead handle the USSF-70 mission no earlier than summer 2028. The change aims to maintain rapid, reliable GPS capability while the Vulcan anomaly investigation continues, and there are no announced changes to other manifests.
- USSF prioritizes GPS III capability delivery timeline, executes launch provider exchange f ssc.spaceforce.mil
- Space Force Switches From ULA to SpaceX Rocket for Upcoming GPS Launch Air & Space Forces Magazine
- Another GPS launch shifts from ULA to SpaceX as Vulcan investigation continues SpaceNews
- US Space Force moves GPS launch to SpaceX Falcon 9 due to Vulcan rocket glitch Space
- Once again, ULA can’t deliver when the US military needs a satellite in orbit Ars Technica
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