The U.S. Space Force is poised to launch its ninth third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, designated GPS 3 Space Vehicle 09 (SV09), into medium Earth orbit. This mission, known as GPS 3-9, will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after the satellite was transitioned from a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket.
Mission Details
The launch is scheduled for 11:42:23 p.m. EST on January 26, 2026 (0442:23 UTC on January 27). Following liftoff, the SV09 payload is expected to deploy from the rocket’s upper stage approximately 1.5 hours later. This satellite is equipped with advanced M-Code technology, which the Space Force describes as essential for providing military personnel with enhanced accuracy and resistance to jamming.
Operational Oversight
Two field commands are overseeing the mission: the Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Combat Forces Command (CFC). The SSC’s System Delta 80 (SYD 80) manages the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, while CFC’s Mission Delta 31 is responsible for pre-launch satellite processing in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, the satellite’s manufacturer.
Weather and Launch Conditions
The launch was initially set for January 25 but was postponed due to weather concerns. The 45th Weather Squadron has forecasted a 40 percent chance of favorable conditions during the 15-minute launch window, citing potential issues with winds at liftoff and recovery weather due to a significant winter storm affecting the region.
Launch Vehicle and Recovery
SpaceX will employ the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1096 for this mission, marking its fifth flight. Approximately 8.5 minutes after launch, B1096 is scheduled to land on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean. If successful, this will be the 141st landing on that vessel and the 564th booster landing for SpaceX.
Strategic Shifts in Launch Assignments
The GPS 3-9 mission represents the third instance where the Space Force has opted to transfer a satellite from a Vulcan rocket to a Falcon 9. Both ULA and SpaceX were awarded contracts for a series of GPS missions as part of the NSSL Phase 2 contract, valued at $4.5 billion for ULA and $4 billion for SpaceX.
Col. Ryan Hiserote, SYD 80 Commander and NSSL program manager, emphasized the importance of flexibility in launch operations, stating, “Our commitment to keeping things flexible – programmatically and contractually – means that we can pivot when necessary to changing circumstances.” The decision to launch SV09 on a Falcon 9 was made to expedite the satellite’s deployment, as the Vulcan manifest was heavily congested.
As with all GPS satellites, SV09 is named after an explorer who contributed to the nation’s legacy. This satellite honors Col. Ellison Onizuka, a U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut who tragically lost his life during the Challenger disaster 40 years ago.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
