A new era in GPS navigation launched Sunday, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket climbed into orbit with a Lockheed Martin-built satellite designed to beam higher-power positioning, navigation and timing signals around the world, providing military and civilian users with more accurate data that is more resistant to growing jamming threats.
The demands of launching the first in an upgraded line of U.S. Air Force GPS navigation satellites, including a late load of extra fuel for the spacecraft and a military policy of reserving fuel to eliminate space junk, will keep SpaceX from recovering the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket following liftoff Thursday from Cape Canaveral, according to mission managers.
SpaceX is preparing for its second Falcon 9 rocket launch in two days, with liftoff of a space station-bound Dragon supply ship from Cape Canaveral planned at 1:16 p.m. EST (1816 GMT) Wednesday. The Falcon 9’s first stage will target a landing back at Cape Canaveral around eight minutes after launch.
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