GPS III SV-08 Launch May 30, 2025.

[jimh]

The GPS III SV-08 launch is now scheduled for Friday, May 30, 2025, with a SPACE X FALCON 9 Block 5 rocket as the launch vehicle. This marks the second consecutive time that the original contractor, United Launch Alliance, was unable to provide their Vulcan rocket on-time, and Space X is taking over the mission.

The U.S. Space Force wants more rapid deployment of the already-built and awaiting-launch GPS III satellites. These newest satellites have improved resistance to signal jamming or spoofing attacks from hostile adversaries.

The launch window begins at 1:23 p.m. EDT at Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

[jimh]

The launch of GPS III SV-08 by SpaceX on Saturday, May 30, 2025 was successful. Liftoff was at 1:37 p.m. EDT. The mission achieved its two goals:

• the GPS satellite payload reached its intended orbit; and,
• the Falcon 9 booster stage B1092 was successfully recovered by autonomously landing on the drone ship “Shortfall of Gravitas” positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.

This launch marked the fifth national security mission this year for SpaceX; twelve more national security mission are scheduled for SpaceX in the remainder of this year. SpaceX is now the dominant provider of both commercial and national security space launches.

More details available from

https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/05/30/l ... canaveral/