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- SpaceX will launch a new GPS III satellite tonight and you can watch the event live right here.
- The GPS III satellite is one of several new GPS satellites that will offer improved location tracking and greater accuracy.
- The launch is scheduled for 9:43 p.m. EDT, according to SpaceX.
I’ve said this before, probably multiple times, but SpaceX has had a very, very busy year. The company has been launching missions on a surprisingly regular basis despite the coronavirus pandemic and even managed to deliver on its promise to NASA by launching the first manned mission on its Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.
Now, in what will be a somewhat more routine but nonetheless important mission, the company plans to launch a new ultra-advanced GPS III satellite into Earth orbit today. The mission will launch a little later than usual, with the window opening at 9:43 pm EDT.
As is typical for nearly all SpaceX launches, the company will broadcast the entire event live, while SpaceX staff provide additional mission details and commentary. You can watch the launch via YouTube’s embedded window below:
The SpaceX launch summary reads as follows:
SpaceX is targeting Friday, October 2, for a Falcon 9 launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The 15-minute launch window opens at 9:43 p.m. EDT, or 01:43 UTC on October 3. After stage separation, SpaceX will land the first stage of Falcon 9 on the unmanned spacecraft “Just Read the Instructions”, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. The spacecraft will deploy approximately 1 hour and 29 minutes after liftoff.
This is now the fourth GPS III satellite to have been deployed in Earth orbit. SpaceX attempted to launch a GPS III satellite in April, but that launch was significantly delayed due to a variety of factors and was finally launched in late June. That was the third satellite of its kind to be sent into space, so it’s been a few months since we saw a launch with this kind of payload.
The GPS III is not yet operational, at least not in any way that changes the way you use your own GPS devices. Current GPS technology is quite impressive and can narrow down positions to about two feet from your exact location. The GPS III is even more powerful, and once it’s up and running you’ll be able to narrow things down to just nine inches. Now that might not make a big difference when you’re using Google Maps to orient yourself in unfamiliar neighborhoods, but it could offer a huge boost to accuracy for certain apps that require much more precision.
Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games for the past decade, covering the latest news and trends in virtual reality, wearable devices, smartphones, and future technology. Most recently, Mike served as a technology editor at The Daily Dot and has been featured in USA Today, Time.com, and many other print and web media. His love of reporting is second only to his addiction to games.
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