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There’s a new star in the night sky after a sixth Global Positioning System III satellite was launched this week.
The GPS III Space Vehicle 06 (GPS III SV06) was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 18 January.
The satellite was designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin to assist US Space Force operators by providing positioning, navigation and timing data to military and civil users worldwide.
Lockheed Martin vice president for navigation systems Andre Trotter said GPS III vehicles provide three times greater accuracy and eight times greater anti-jamming capability over existing satellites in the constellation.
“Lockheed Martin is incredibly proud to support the Space Force’s GPS team as it continues to add world-class capabilities that underpin US national security with enhanced performance and accuracy,” he said.
“With the last GPS III satellite complete and ready to launch, production of the first GPS IIIF vehicle is underway.”
The 25th military-code satellite introduced to the constellation has an operational orbit approximately 12,550 miles above Earth. It also has a modular design which allows new technology and capabilities to be added in the future to support its crucial technological foundation for internet, financial, transportation and agricultural operations.
In November 2022, Space Systems Command announced approximately $744 million for the procurement of three additional GPS IIIF satellites from Lockheed Martin, with the company now contracted to build SV11-20.
Robert Dougherty
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