Get ready for an exciting event! SpaceX is gearing up to launch its next Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, with the new target time set for Monday night at 11:46 p.m. This mission is particularly noteworthy as it will not be a Starlink operation, but instead will deploy a GPS satellite constructed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Space Force.
The Falcon 9’s first stage is designed to land on a drone ship named Shortfall of Gravitas located in the Atlantic Ocean, which means we won’t experience the typical sonic boom that often accompanies rocket launches. The satellite being launched is significant, as it represents the ninth installment in a cutting-edge series of GPS satellites that the Space Force is developing.
Originally, this launch was planned for Sunday evening but had to be postponed due to reasons that have not been disclosed. It’s worth noting that this upcoming launch window is brief, lasting only 15 minutes, so enthusiasts should definitely stay up to witness it.
This launch marks a week since the last rocket took off, which is unusual for Florida, a state accustomed to seeing multiple launches in a single week. Presently, SpaceX is limited to using Launch Complex 40 while work continues on their Starship launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, specifically at Pad 39A.
Thanks to experience and the readiness of the necessary equipment, the teams were able to process and integrate the GPS III (SV09) satellite with the Falcon 9 rocket more quickly than they have done in the past. U.S. Space Force Colonel Ryan Hiserote, who commands SYD 80 and oversees the NSSL program, commented on the flexibility of their launch strategies in a press release dated January 22. "For this launch, we switched a GPS III mission from a Vulcan to a Falcon 9, and we also exchanged a later GPS IIIF mission from a Falcon Heavy to a Vulcan. Our ability to remain adaptable—both in terms of programming and contracts—allows us to respond effectively to changing needs. We have demonstrated our capability to adjust the launch schedule in response to complex and evolving circumstances while continuing to expedite the delivery of essential capabilities to our military partners."
In a touching tribute, the spacecraft is named after Colonel Ellison Onizuka, who tragically lost his life during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, making this launch particularly poignant.
Because the first stage of the rocket will be landing in the ocean, there will be no sonic booms heard in Brevard County during this launch.
For those interested in following the action live, the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will provide updates starting 90 minutes before the scheduled liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.
Brooke Edwards serves as a Space Reporter for Florida Today. You can reach her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or follow her on X at @brookeofstars.
