SpaceX Puts Powerful GPS Satellite for US Military Into Orbit

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the US Air Force’s most powerful GPS satellite ever built.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying the US Air Force’s most powerful GPS satellite ever built.

(Photo: AP)

A SpaceX rocket on Sunday blasted off a powerful GPS satellite for the US Air Force, marking its 21st and final launch for the year 2018.

"Three, two, one, zero. Ignition and liftoff," said a SpaceX mission control operator as the white Falcon 9 rocket took off under sunny, blue skies at 8:51 am IST (13:51 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday 23 December 2018. The rocket is carrying the US Air Force’s most powerful GPS satellite ever built. 

The launch sent the Global Positioning System III space vehicle (SV) satellite into space to join the Air Force’s constellation of 31 operational GPS satellites.

It promises “three times better accuracy,” and an extended, 15-year operational life, said a SpaceX statement.

Billions of people worldwide depend on GPS to support financial, transportation, and agricultural infrastructure.

SpaceX said the rocket was a "rare, expendable" version of the Falcon 9 since it would not attempt to re-land the booster after launch, needing to reserve all the rocket fuel to propel the satellite to its distant orbit.

(Published in an arrangement with PTI)