SpaceX Falcon 9 : GPS III-3 : Cape Canaveral : June 30, 2020

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tylerg1998/status/1243667385518874632

#SpaceX has opened media accreditation for the GPS III SV03 mission, which is set to launch on a #Falcon9 from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral NET April.

Unlike the SV01 mission in Dec. 2018, the first stage will attempt to land on a droneship shortly after launch.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/1247599557875306500

Gen. Jay Raymond, head of Space Force, says the planned launch of next GPS planned for May being postponed to end of June.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Delay is due to COVID-19

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1247623260012982279

The Space and Missile Systems Center confirms a 2-month delay in the launch of the next GPS satellite -- which was set for launch from Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 29 — to "minimize the potential of COVID-19 exposure to the launch crew and early-orbit operators.”

[gongora]

SMC reschedules GPS III-3 launch
SMC Public Affairs / Published April 07, 2020

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
The United States Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has decided to reschedule the launch of GPS III SV03 (GPS III-3) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to minimize the potential of COVID-19 exposure to the launch crew and early-orbit operators.

The current GPS constellation is healthy, allowing for a strategic pause to ensure the health and safety of our force without operational impact.

Originally scheduled for late April 2020, the launch is now projected for no-earlier than June 30, pending a re-evaluation in May.

“We do not make this decision lightly, however, given our GPS constellation remains strong, we have the opportunity to make a deliberate decision to maintain our mission assurance posture, without introducing additional health risk to personnel or mission risk to the launch,” said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, SMC commander and program executive officer for space.

GPS III-3 brings the third modernized GPS III satellite to the operational GPS mission, and the team remains ready to execute. GPS III will bring three times better accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capability than its predecessor.

The current constellation is healthy with 31 satellites on orbit, allowing the team to take this strategic pause without gaps in coverage or capability.

“The GPS system supports vital U.S. and allied operations worldwide, unabated. As the COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to national security, likewise, rescheduling the launch is in the interest of national security,” said Gen. Thompson. “We have to get it right the first time, and protecting our people is just as important as cost, schedule, and performance.”

SMC still plans to complete the next three GPS launches in 2020. The team is taking the necessary steps to protect the health of personnel to allow a swift return to the mission.

“Some of the steps include procedural and facility modifications at the GPS III Launch and Checkout Capability (LCC) operations center and reducing the onsite crew size to provide adequate physical distancing, per CDC guidelines,” said Col. Edward Byrne, chief of Medium Earth Orbit Space Systems Division. “Once these efforts are completed, and the crews have rehearsed and are deemed proficient and ready to execute under these modified conditions, we fully intend to return to our launch cadence for deploying GPS III satellites.”

A leader of GPS III acquisition, SMC’s Production Corps is the United States Space Force’s acquisition office for producing and delivering GPS satellites, ground systems and military user equipment. The Production Corps’ agile program management techniques, smart business approach and close teaming with Lockheed Martin Space are enabling the production and delivery of GPS III’s new civil and warfighting capabilities by 2023. GPS delivers the “gold standard” of space-based positioning, navigation, and timing services vital to U.S. and allied operations worldwide, and underpins critical financial, transportation, and agricultural infrastructure that more than four billion users have come to depend on daily.

SMC’s Launch Enterprise, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is responsible for the acquisition and operation of launch vehicles, which includes mission assurance and launch safety. The Launch Enterprise is also responsible for leading the effort to certify new entrants to provide launch services for National Security payloads.

GPS III SV03 will be launched into operational orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. GPS III SV03 will be the second National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the first NSSL mission where a Launch Service Provider is recovering a booster.

The Space and Missile Systems Center is the U.S. Space Force's center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. SMC’s portfolio includes space launch, global positioning, military space vehicle communications, defense meteorological space vehicles, range systems, space vehicle control networks, space-based infrared systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.

SMC continues to deliver vital capabilities to the warfighter and the world, despite the challenges of COVID-19.  Recent examples include the successful launch of AEHF-6 on March 26, Operational Acceptance of GPS III SV02 by Space Operations Command on March 27, and the inclusion of SV02 into the operational GPS constellation on April 1.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

FALCON 9

<snip>And a Falcon 9 is slated to launch the next GPS III satellite for the U.S. Air Force from pad 40 as early as June 30 at 3:55 pm EDT. The launch window stretches 15 minutes to 4:10 pm EDT.

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/LockheedMartin/status/1275398196353589248

[DreamyPickle]

If the June 30th date holds it will be the first time SpaceX has launched 4 times inside the same calendar month. They did 3 times in a month several times, but never 4.

It likely won't hold, schedules rarely hold to the exact day.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasa_nerd/status/1275901249028796421

While we wait for Falcon 9 Static Fire, Eastern Range coordinates are available for the next Falcon 9 launch, targeting June 30th (that's only 6 days from now) with a backup date of July 1st. This launch will carry the GPS III satellite for the U.S. Air Force.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1276127802467725313

As we wait to hear the results of yesterday's static fire of B1051, it appears that the GPS III booster is poised on LC-40 for a static fire attempt of its own. #Starlink #GPSIII

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/1276155034242371592

F9/GPS3: SpaceX carried out a Falcon 9 static firing today at CCAFS LC-40, 1 day after a similar test at KSC LC-39A; ignition today came at 10 AM EDT and firing appeared normal. As usual, we will now stand by for an update from SpaceX on launch status

[Elthiryel]

Official confirmation of the static fire and the planned launch date of June 30.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1276165251290017792

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1276194227639267328

Y'all asked for it so here you go! B1051.5 at LC 39-A on the left and the recently static fired booster for GPS III on LC-40 to the far right. You can also see the MLP for OmegA, VAB and LC-41 where an Atlas will launch Perseverance in July. Busy Cape Range!

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/bocachicagal/status/1276232074127650824

There's quite a lot going on at the Cape right now! Using @julia_bergeron's photo, I marked each point of interest in this shot.

Two Falcon 9s, One Atlas V going to Mars, parts of SLS, and OmegA! These next few months are going to be a lot of fun to watch.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/_spacegal_/status/1276353693273804800

@SpaceX @elonmusk #GPS3SV03 being transported to Kennedy Space Center ahead of Launch 🚀 The size is unbelievable

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/_spacegal_/status/1276321022820655109

[Thunderscreech]

Temporary flight restriction posted:
https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1276513053534646274?s=21

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-4 launch weather forecast only 40% GO (same for delay day)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1276591432548200450

Just Read the Instructions droneship is preparing to depart from Port Canaveral.

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1276592264136011778

Tugboat Lauren Foss will be towing JRTI - the first time for this ship.

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1276606350592749570

Just Read the Instructions droneship has departed from Port Canaveral!

JRTI was assigned to support the GPS mission and OCISLY to Starlink. The two landing zones are only ~50 km apart so swapping the droneships around could be possible.

Photo via WKMG ClickOrlando.com

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jacqmans1972/status/1276848825496416256

The #GPS III SV03 #satellite is encapsulated within a SpaceX payload fairing on June 21 in preparation for its upcoming launch. GPS III SV03 is set to launch from Cape Canaveral aboard a #Falcon9 rocket, June 30 at 3:55 p.m. EDT. (Photo @SpaceX)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-3 launch weather forecast still only 40% GO

[zubenelgenubi]

The #GPS III SV03 #satellite is encapsulated within a SpaceX payload fairing on June 21 in preparation for its upcoming launch. GPS III SV03 is set to launch from Cape Canaveral aboard a #Falcon9 rocket, June 30 at 3:55 p.m. EDT. (Photo @SpaceX)

I couldn't find a previous notice; spacecraft processing was performed at Astrotech/Titusville.

(GPS III-01 processed at Astrotech/Titusville.
GPS III-02 processed at Astrotech/Titusville.)
***

Re: Transport on public roads of payload encapsulated in fairing.  Normally, when we see such footage, it is on roads inside KSC and CCAFS.  Why was this different this time?

[Elthiryel]

L-2 weather forecast shows 60% GO for the primary day and 40% GO in case of a delay.

https://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/Weather/Falcon%209%20GPS%20III-3%20L-2%20Forecast%20-%2030%20Jun%20Launch.pdf?ver=2020-06-28-074408-723