SpaceX launches next-generation GPS satellite - CNN

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SpaceX fired a caller GPS outer into orbit connected behalf of the US subject connected Wednesday, continuing an effort to bolster the constellation of planetary positioning and navigation satellites that underpin smartphone apps, wartime operations and more.

The GPS outer launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket astatine 7:24 a.m. ET from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station successful Florida.

SpaceX confirmed the outer had been deployed successful a consequent tweet featuring video of the moment.

The ngo carried the sixth spacecraft successful a caller procreation of GPS satellites, called GPS III, to an orbit astir 12,550 miles (20,200 km) supra the Earth’s surface, wherever much than 30 GPS satellites are presently operating. They plaything astir the satellite erstwhile astir each 12 hours and perpetually beam vigor signals to find the precise determination of objects connected the ground. The next-generation GPS III satellites, built by Lockheed Martin, volition modernize that system, with plans to physique up to 32 of the satellites, including the six that person launched since 2019.

Though GPS services are routinely utilized by smartphones, Lockheed Martin notes connected its website that it besides serves subject purposes.

“Space has go a much contested situation — with more-competitive adversaries,” the company’s website reads. “Our warfighters request enhanced capabilities to instrumentality connected evolving threats. The request to instrumentality the absorption connected GPS arsenic a ‘warfighting system’ has ne'er been clearer.”

The erstwhile procreation of GPS satellites began entering work successful the precocious 1990s.

After Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral and expended astir of its fuel, the archetypal signifier — the ample bottommost information that gives the archetypal thrust astatine liftoff — detached from the rocket’s 2nd signifier and the outer and returned to a pinpoint landing connected a level astatine sea. It’s a regular maneuver for SpaceX, which regularly recovers and reuses its rockets to thrust down costs.

The first-stage rocket booster utilized Wednesday antecedently launched SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission, which carried 4 astronauts to the International Space Station successful October 2022.