[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]SpaceX launched its final mission of the year Sunday, successfully putting into orbit a new generation of GPS, built by Lockheed Martin.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, SpaceX’s 21st launch of the year. The launch was five days delayed because of trouble with first stage propellant temperatures Tuesday and stormy weather Thursday. High winds kept the rocket grounded on Saturday.
The United States’ Global Positioning System delivers positioning, navigation, and timing services supporting vital U.S. and allied operations worldwide, and underpins critical financial, transportation, and agricultural infrastructure that billions of users have come to depend on daily.
The United States Air Force’s first GPS III satellite will augment the current constellation of 31 operational GPS satellites. “This newest generation of GPS satellites is designed and built to deliver positioning, navigation, and timing information with three times better accuracy, and up to eight times improved antijamming capability. GPS is used by over four billion users and supports critical missions worldwide,” SpaceX said in a release.
The mission was “critical to national defense,” the release said.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the newly reconstituted National Space Council, was present for the initial launch and a tour of SpaceX facilities.
Watch the video below.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRiLPoy_Mzc” video_title=”1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]