The ninth GPS III satellite (SV09) climbed into orbit on Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Signal acquisition was achieved soon after launch and the satellite is now under the control of the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin’s, Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Centre until it is officially accepted into the GPS operational control network.

According to Lockheed Martin, the GPS III-series satellites deliver three-times better accuracy and eight-times improved anti-jamming capabilities, for military users at least. They also feature M-code navigation signals for military use.

SV09 is also equipped with a laser retroreflector array, which will be used to improve measurements of the Earth’s rotation and orientation for the coordinate system.

Interestingly, each GPS III satellite has been named after an explorer or pioneer:

• GPS III-01: Vespucci, named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, from whom comes the name America;
• GPS III-02: Magellan, named after the sailor and explorer;
• GPS III-03: Matthew Henson, an African-American explorer of the Arctic;
• GPS III-04: Sacagawea, a native American woman who provided assistance to the Lewis and Clark expedition;
• GPS III-05: Neil Armstrong, the astronaut and first person to set foot on the Moon;
• GPS III-06: Amelia Earhart, the famous pilot and aviation pioneer;
• GPS III-07: Sally Ride, America’s first female astronaut to reach orbit;
• GPS III-08: Katherine Johnson, a NASA ‘human computer’ who has become known as one of the ‘hidden figures’ of the space race;
• GPS III-09: Ellison Onizuka, an astronaut who sadly perished in the space shuttle Challenger explosion; and
• GPS III-10: Hedy Lamarr, the actress and industrial inventor.

The tenth satellite is due for launch later this year. The follow-on GPS IIIF series of 22 satellites are under construction and will begin to reach orbit from 2027 onwards.

“The launch of GPS III SV09 is an important step in bolstering the resilience of the GPS constellation,” said Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin.

“By adding more resilient satellites to the constellation, we’re laying the foundation for the GPS IIIF‑era, which will provide 60-times more anti-jam capabilities.

“The ongoing investment in GPS III launches and additional GPS IIIF satellites ensures uninterrupted, precise navigation and timing for our forces, even in contested or denied environments.”