This mission followed an accelerated launch timeline, with the spacecraft shipping from Lockheed Martin’s Colorado facility and completing preparations in Florida in just over three months. This marks a significant reduction in the usual timeframe required for such operations.
“Our team is thrilled to support another launch of a critical GPS satellite, just five months since the last liftoff,” said Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems for Lockheed Martin Space. “This demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s ability to rapidly launch and deploy national security space assets, and we look forward to putting the next two GPS III satellites on orbit to further enhance this critical constellation.”
The GPS III satellites are designed to provide highly accurate and resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to both civilian and military users. These capabilities support a wide range of applications, including aviation, maritime, land transport, and search and rescue operations.
For military users, GPS III and the future GPS IIIF satellites offer advanced security features and anti-jamming capabilities. These features ensure secure and uninterrupted access to navigation data, even in contested or denied environments, thus supporting vital national defence operations.
Following today’s launch, SV08 is now under the operational control of Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center. It will remain there until it is officially accepted into the current operational GPS constellation.
Lockheed Martin not only builds the GPS satellites at its Littleton, Colorado facility but also manages early on-orbit operations. The company plays a key role in maintaining the GPS ground segment, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan.
This modernised ground architecture supports the operation of 31 active GPS satellites, delivering the PNT services that underpin much of today’s global infrastructure. It includes a global network of monitoring stations, master control stations, and ground antennas.
Lockheed Martin recently enhanced the ground segment with M-Code Early Use, enabling secure military communication signals for American and allied forces worldwide. Once declared operational, SV08 will be the eighth GPS III satellite in orbit to carry the enhanced M-code capability.
Additionally, Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract modification for two future GPS IIIF satellites. These additions will further strengthen the GPS constellation’s capabilities for both civilian and defence purposes.
