SpaceX launches GPS satellite
SpaceX last night successfully launched a GPS satellite for the Space Force, its Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The Space Force had originally hired ULA to launch this satellite, but two weeks ago it switched launch provider to SpaceX. Apparently the military wanted this satellite launched now, and for some reason ULA could not do it, even though the Vulcan rocket was supposedly ready for launch.
The first stage completed its fifth flight, landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic. The two fairing halves each completed their second flight.
The 2026 launch race:
11 SpaceX
5 China
1 Rocket Lab
SpaceX last night successfully launched a GPS satellite for the Space Force, its Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
The Space Force had originally hired ULA to launch this satellite, but two weeks ago it switched launch provider to SpaceX. Apparently the military wanted this satellite launched now, and for some reason ULA could not do it, even though the Vulcan rocket was supposedly ready for launch.
The first stage completed its fifth flight, landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic. The two fairing halves each completed their second flight.
The 2026 launch race:
11 SpaceX
5 China
1 Rocket Lab

