SpaceX Successfully Launches GPS III SV10: Final GPS III Satellite Reaches Orbit Named After Hedy Lamar
Summary: SpaceX successfully launched GPS III SV10 on April 21, 2026 at 06:53 UTC (14:53 Beijing time) aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. GPS III SV10, named "Hedy Lamar" after the Austrian-American actress and inventor whose frequency-hopping research led to the development of GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth, is the tenth and final satellite in the GPS III program. The booster B1095 successfully landed on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions," marking SpaceX's 601st Falcon booster landing.
Credit: SpaceX / Spaceflight Now
Mission Overview
GPS III SV10 (also designated GPS III-8) is the tenth satellite in the GPS III constellation upgrade program built by Lockheed Martin, and the final satellite in the GPS III block. The GPS III satellites offer significant improvements over the previous GPS IIF generation:
- Improved Accuracy: Civil signal accuracy up to three times better than previous generation
- Stronger Signals: Enhanced L1, L2, and L5 signals with significantly improved anti-jamming capabilities
- Extended Lifespan: 15-year design life (compared to 12 years for previous generations)
- L5 Signal: New aviation-safe L5 signal frequency for improved aviation navigation
- Technology Demonstrations: This mission carries an optical cross-link demonstration payload and a new digital atomic clock for in-orbit technology validation
Following deployment approximately 1.5 hours after liftoff, the satellite will raise its orbit over a period of 10 days to achieve its operational position, followed by 2-3 days of on-orbit testing before handing over operations to the U.S. Space Force.
Launch Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Booster | B1095 (7th flight) |
| Payload | GPS III SV10 (Hedy Lamar) |
| Launch Time | 2026-04-21 06:53 UTC (14:53 Beijing) |
| Launch Site | Cape Canaveral SFS, SLC-40, FL, USA |
| Orbit | Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) |
| Booster Landing | Drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" (158th landing on vessel) |
| Fairing Recovery | Both halves recovered |
| Total Landings | SpaceX's 601st Falcon booster landing |
Mission Background & Highlights
Hedy Lamar Naming: GPS III SV10 is named "Hedy Lamar" to honor Austrian-American actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. Her pioneering research in frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology laid the foundation for GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth technologies.
ULA Mission Swap: This mission marks the fourth time SpaceX has launched a GPS satellite originally assigned to United Launch Alliance (ULA) under the NSSL Phase 2 contract. Due to delays with ULA's Vulcan rocket, GPS III SV10 was transferred from Vulcan to Falcon 9. In exchange, ULA will launch USSF-70 on a Vulcan rocket in 2028.
601st Landing Milestone: This launch marks SpaceX's 601st Falcon booster landing overall, with the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions" recording its 158th landing.
GPS III Program Progress
GPS III is the U.S. Air Force's third-generation GPS satellite replacement program. Once all 11 GPS III satellites are deployed, they will operate alongside existing GPS IIF and GPS III SV01–SV09 satellites to provide Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services to users worldwide. GPS III satellites are primarily manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
| Satellite | Status |
|---|---|
| GPS III SV01–SV09 | Launched and operational |
| GPS III SV10 (Hedy Lamar) | Successfully launched on 2026-04-21 |
| GPS III SV11 | Planned (before GPS IIIF) |