Lockheed Martin has announced the launch of satellite GPS III SV08, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral US Space Force Station and acquired a signal shortly after reaching orbit.
The company emphasized that the satellite followed an accelerated launch timeline, moving from final integration to liftoff in just over three months, significantly faster than the usual process.
SV08 is currently under the control of Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center until it is formally added to the active GPS constellation.
The GPS III will provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing data.
It is designed to enhance anti-jamming and secure signal capabilities to support operations in contested environments.
“Our team is thrilled to support another launch of a critical GPS satellite, just five months since the last liftoff,” said Malik Musawwir, VP of Navigation Systems for Lockheed Martin Space.
“This demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s ability to rapidly launch and deploy national security space assets, and we look forward to putting the next two GPS III satellites on orbit to further enhance this critical constellation.”
Boosting Space Security
Lockheed Martin supports the US GPS program by building satellites at its Littleton, Colorado facility and managing early on-orbit operations.
In April, the company delivered the GPS III SV08 satellite to the US Space Force for launch preparation.
Lockheed Martin also supports the maintenance and modernization of the GPS ground system, dubbed Architecture Evolution Plan, which controls 31 active satellites through a global network of monitoring stations, control centers, and antennas.
