The first flight of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule

U.S. military officials said Tuesday the launch of the next satellite for the GPS navigation network — planned for April 29 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket — has been delayed to no earlier than June 30 to avoid exposing launch crews to the COVID-19 viral disease. However, the next launch of the military’s X-37B spaceplane remains on track for liftoff in May on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, officials said.

The first Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket goes upright at launch pad 39A soon after sunrise on 10 May 2018. The rocket is due to launch the Bangabandhu 1 communications satellite for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

The satellite is designed to enhance broadband communications in India, both on the ground and during air travel. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 1:31 p.m. EST (1831 UTC).