Four additional GPS 3 satellites have been manufactured and are in storage at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Colorado awaiting launch opportunities.
Lockheed Martin delivered the 10th and final GPS 3 satellite made under a 2008 contract in the month prior to 2024-03-13.
Of the 10 GPS 3 satellites built under the 2008 contract, six have been launched and four are being stored.
The 2024 budget request for the GPS Enterprise funds systems engineering and integration support to manage the storage and checkout of GPS 3 satellites already delivered.
The fifth GPS 3 satellite launched in 2021.
Five of the first six GPS 3 launches used SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicles and one used a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 vehicle.
Lockheed Martin won the 2008 competition to build the GPS 3 satellites, beating Boeing.
Space Systems Command made the 10th GPS 3 satellite available for launch on 2023-02-16.
The first GPS 3 satellite launched in 2018 after an original projection for a 2014 launch.
The U.S. Space Force accepted delivery of the 10th and final GPS 3 satellite built by Lockheed Martin under a 2008 contract.
Of the 10 GPS 3 satellites built, six have been launched and four are stored at a Lockheed Martin facility in Waterton, Colorado awaiting launch opportunities.
GPS 3 satellites provide military users extra protection from jamming and provide a more advanced L1C signal for civilian users that is interoperable with Europe’s Galileo navigation satellites.
The Falcon 9 launched the Lockheed Martin-built GPS 3 SV-06, the sixth satellite of the GPS 3 series.
The Falcon 9 second stage performed two engine burns to inject the GPS 3 SV-06 satellite into its intended orbit one hour and 29 minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX previously launched four GPS 3 satellites under contracts awarded in 2016 and 2018.
The Space Force has launched five of the 10 GPS 3 model satellites it purchased.
Lockheed Martin won a contract in 2008 to produce 10 GPS 3 satellites and has transitioned production to the GPS 3F version.
The U.S. Air Force selected Lockheed Martin in 2010 to produce the GPS 3 generation.
Lockheed Martin won a 2008 contract to produce 10 GPS 3 satellites and is about to complete the final GPS 3 as it transitions to the GPS 3F version.
Five GPS 3 satellites, space vehicles 1 through 5, have been launched to date.