NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

GPS-3 6 (USA-343)

Launch Time
Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:24 UTC

Rocket

Falcon 9 Block 5
Image Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX
Status: Active
Price: $69.75 million
Liftoff Thrust: 7,607 kN
Payload to LEO: 22,800 kg
Payload to GTO: 8,300 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 70.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.0 m

Vehicles

A Shortfall of Gravitas

B1077

Flight #2
105 day turnaround
176th Falcon recovery attempt
164th successful Falcon recovery
91st consecutive successful Falcon landing and recovery

Mission Details

GPS-3 6 (USA-343)

GPS-3 (Global Positioning System) or Navstar-3 (Navigation System using Timing And Ranging) are the first evolution stage of the third generation of the GPS satellites.

The U.S. Air Force announced in May 2008 that a team led by Lockheed Martin has won the competition to build the next-generation Global Positioning System (Navstar) Space System program, known as GPS III.

This program will improve position, navigation, and timing services for the warfighter and civil users worldwide and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability.

When fully deployed, the GPS III constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. Additionally, a new spot beam capability for enhanced military (M-Code) coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be incorporated. These enhancements will contribute to improved accuracy and assured availability for military and civilian users worldwide.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 4,352.0 kg
Medium Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2023

11th orbital launch attempt

SpaceX

208th mission
4th mission of 2023
202nd successful mission
174th consecutive successful mission

Falcon 9

198th mission
3rd mission of 2023
195th successful mission
169th consecutive successful mission