Credit: Spaceflight Now
Summary: On April 21, 2026, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the final GPS III constellation satellite — GPS III-8 (Space Vehicle 10, nicknamed "Hedy Lamar") — from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marks the completion of the GPS III constellation buildout.
Mission Overview
The satellite lifted off at 2:53:25 a.m. EDT (06:53:25 UTC) and was successfully deployed to medium Earth orbit approximately 1.5 hours later. The launch was originally scheduled for April 20 but was delayed one day due to poor weather in the booster recovery zone.
GPS III-8 is the tenth and final satellite in the GPS III series. The spacecraft is named after Hedy Lamar, the renowned inventor and actress who pioneered frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology.
GPS III Constellation
GPS III is the newest generation of the Global Positioning System, offering higher accuracy, improved anti-jamming capabilities, and enhanced civilian signal compatibility compared to earlier GPS satellites. The full GPS III constellation will significantly improve both military and civilian GPS services worldwide.