An artist’s impression of a GPS Block IIIA satellite in orbit. Credit: USAF.

The US Air Force’s (USAF) first advanced Global Positioning System III space vehicle (GPS III SV01) satellite has been encapsulated for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite was enclosed and sealed in an aerodynamic, nose-cone shell launch fairing, which will be mounted on to the rocket for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, on 18 December.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

GPS III SV01 is the first of ten GPS III satellites currently under full production at the company’s advanced $128m GPS III processing facility near Denver.

The satellite successfully completed pre-launch processing, fuelling and encapsulation at Astrotech Space Operations, in Titusville, Florida. It is nicknamed ‘Vespucci’ after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Lockheed Martin navigation systems vice-president Johnathon Caldwell said: “The world is dependent on GPS. More than four billion military, commercial and civilian users connect with signals generated by GPS satellites every day.

“The launch of GPS III SV01 will be the first step in modernising the airforce’s GPS constellation with the most powerful and resilient GPS satellites ever designed and built.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
“GPS III is expected to perform with three times increased accuracy and offer up to eight times enhanced anti-jamming capabilities.”

The satellite will be the first GPS system that would broadcast the new L1C civil signal, which will increase connectivity for civilian users.

The new design of GPS satellites will offer advanced capabilities to the US and allied military forces while extending the spacecraft life to 15 years.

In addition, GPS III is expected to perform with three times increased accuracy and offer up to eight times enhanced anti-jamming capabilities.

The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth GPS III satellites are at different stages of assembly and testing.

The second GPS III Space Vehicle 02 (GPS III SV02) was declared as ‘available for launch’ by the USAF in 2019.

Lockheed Martin was selected in September for a contract to supply 22 GPS III Follow-On satellites to the USAF for an estimated amount of up to $7.2bn.