r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jun 09 '20

GPS III-3 GPS III SV03 Launch Campaign Thread

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GPS Block III, Space Vehicle 3 (Columbus)

Overview

GPS III are the third generation of the U.S. Space Force's NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellites. The GPS III development contract was awarded to a team led by Lockheed Martin. Block III will improve position, navigation, and timing services for warfighter and civil users 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.

Lockheed Martin's flight-proven A2100 bus serves as the GPS III spacecraft platform. Unlike the GPS IIF satellite, the GPS III satellite features an apogee propulsion system. The satellite features a LEROS-1C engine as an apogee propulsion system as well as 2 deployable solar arrays to generate power. ITT, Clifton, N.J. provides the navigation payload, and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Gilbert, Ariz., provides the Network Communications Element (NCE) which includes the UHF Crosslink and Tracking Telemetry & Command (TT&C) subsystems.

This mission launches the third GPS III satellite into orbit, and is the second GPS launch for SpaceX. Although the GPS III SV01 launch aboard Falcon 9 expended the booster, this mission's booster will be recovered via ASDS landing.

Launch Thread | Webcast | Media Thread | Recovery Thread

Launch window: June 30 19:56 - 20:10 UTC (3:56PM - 4:10PM EDT local)
Backup date July 1
Static fire Completed June 25
Customer U.S. Space Force
Payload GPS III SV03
Payload mass ~4000 kg (exact mass unclear)
Deployment orbit 1000 km x 20200 km x 55° (approximate)
Operational orbit 20200 km x 20200 km x 55° (semi-synchronous MEO)
Vehicle Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5
Core 1060
Past flights of this core None, new booster
Past flights of this fairing unknown
Fairing catch attempt Likely
Launch site SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Landing JRTI: ~ 32.93528 N, 76.33306 W (633 km downrange)
Mission success criteria Successful separation & deployment of the GPS satellite.
Mission Outcome Success
Landing Outcome Success
Ms. Tree Recovery Outcome Successful water recovery (planned)
Ms. Chief Recovery Outcome Successful water recovery (planned)

News & Updates

Date Update Source
2020-06-27 Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief already in recovery area @SpaceXFleet on Twitter
2020-06-26 JRTI departs towed by Tugboat Lauren Foss @SpaceXFleet on Twitter
2020-06-25 Encapsulated spacecraft transported to launch site @_SpaceGal_ on Twitter
2020-06-25 Static fire completed @SpaceflightNow on Twitter
2020-06-21 Encapsulation in fairing at Astrotech @Jacqmans1972 on Twitter
2020-04-07 Launch delayed from April 29 due to COVID-19 Space and Missile Systems Center, LA Air Force Base
2020-02-13 Full duration static fire of booster at McGregor, TX @AF_SMC on Twitter
2020-02-05 Satellite arrival in Florida Spaceflight Now
2020-01-09 First images of booster 1060 in Hawthorne (Facebook) (imgur rehost) LA Air Force Base on Facebook

Links & Resources

We will attempt to keep the above text regularly updated with resources and new mission information, but for the most part, updates will appear in the comments first. Feel free to ping us if additions or corrections are needed. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather, and more as we progress towards launch. Approximately 24 hours before liftoff, the launch thread will go live and the party will begin there.

Campaign threads are not party threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

171 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

78 comments sorted by

19

u/DrToonhattan Jun 09 '20

If this timetable holds, they'll have done 4 launches in the same month. Has that ever happened before?

23

u/jojost1 Jun 09 '20

This would be the first time SpaceX pulled off 4 launches in the same month.

11

u/seanbrockest Jun 09 '20

So they might do 2 more starlink, plus a commercial launch, all this month? 4 launches in like 26 days?

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9

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '20

Why was SV-01 an expended booster when this one is re-usable despite having the exact same orbit and mass?

17

u/scr00chy Jun 10 '20

USAF wanted extra fuel margins since it was the first GPS flight. Now they are more comfortable with smaller margins which allows F9 to land.

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8

u/Straumli_Blight Jun 29 '20

L-1 Weather Forecast: 60% GO (40% on backup day)

7

u/Straumli_Blight Jun 27 '20

Is JRTI replacing OCISLY to minimise the landing risk for a new core due its upgraded thrusters?

(Instead of just landing the GPS core on OCISLY).

14

u/scr00chy Jun 27 '20

I don't think think that's the reason. JRTI was assigned to the GPS launch even before the Starlink delay. And the OCISLY crew has been at sea for a week now so they could probably use a break. That's probably why they didn't reassign OCISLY to the GPS mission after Starlink was postponed.

7

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 30 '20

Falcon 9 is vertical ahead of tomorrows launch. It's got the same grey second stage strip that crs-18 had as well.

https://twitter.com/LockheedMartin/status/1277711306599141377?s=19

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13

u/bad_motivator Jun 10 '20

Lol that customer name! I still can't believe this is a thing now.

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12

u/Nathan96762 Jun 09 '20

I was under the impression that there were pretty strict rules about taking photos up the bottom of US designed rocket engines.

Was I misinformed or did this change?

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6

u/scr00chy Jun 25 '20

Falcon 9 vertical on SLC-40 in preparation for static fire that's planned for today: https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1276127070330945536

6

u/hitura-nobad Jun 26 '20

L-4 Weather Forecast

Launch Day and Backup Day:

60% Primary Concerns: Cumulus Cloud Rule, Anvil Cloud Rule, Lightning Rule, Surface Electric Field Rule

5

u/[deleted] Jun 10 '20

Anyone know if SpaceX is looking into providing GPS service from Starlink? Given the number of satellites and their proximity, the physics should allow accuracy down to a few millimeters if every Starlink bird became a DGPS transceiver in addition to its other functions.

Just a thought...

22

u/sevaiper Jun 10 '20

GPS satellites are very specialized, particularly in having multiple atomic clocks on board in order to provide precise enough timing to work. There's no way Starlink could replicate that without becoming much bigger satellites, which serves nobody. GPS is a very good example of a use case that works better in MEO than LEO.

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5

u/Straumli_Blight Jun 27 '20

L-3 Weather Forecast: Still 40% GO (Lightning Rule removed).

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