Liftoff: SpaceX GPS III SV04

MaryLiz Bender

Cosmic Perspective Co-Founder, Creative Director

Mission Success

After a series of delays, SpaceX successfully launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 04 (SV04) mission for the US Space Force on November 5, 2020. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, successfully sending a next-generation GPS satellite to orbit before re-landing its booster on an autonomous droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.

As usual, we were poised just a couple of miles away from the launchpad, capturing the moment of liftoff with a telescope and cinema cameras and we sent our feeds to Tim Dodd, The Everyday Astronaut’s live stream.

Relive the moment of liftoff at 30:11

Next-Generation GPS

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a global navigation satellite system, operated by the United States Space Force, that provides worldwide coverage for geolocation and time. An hour and a half after liftoff, the GPS III SV04 satellite deployed, joining the existing GPS fleet in Medium-Earth orbit. There are now 32 active GPS satellites, with an additional 24 planned to fill out the constellation fleet.

Currently, the GPS constellation provides extremely accurate readings to the civilian population, and increased accuracy for military operations. The new-generation Block III GPS satellites, the third major iteration of GPS satellites, were developed to further improve the accuracy for both civilian and military operations. The SV04 satellite launching on this mission is the fourth satellite of the Block III fleet.

Stay up to date

We document almost every rocket launch from the U.S., placing our cameras at the launchpads and interviewing astronauts, scientists, and the people sending missions to space. Sign up to receive bi-weekly Rocket Brief emails to stay up to date.

A Brand New, Reusable Rocket

The GPS III SV04 launch marks the first flight of this particular Falcon 9 booster, designated B1062.1. About 8 minutes after liftoff, just following stage separation, the Falcon 9 conducted 3 burns, allowing it to land perfectly on the Just Read The Instructions drone ship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

More Space News

Inspiration

Watch Carl Sagan’s Cosmos

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage Carl Sagan’s groundbreaking series, ‘Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,’ originally aired more than four decades ago, leaving an indelible mark on viewers

Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander in the clean room for launch preparations.

Rocket Launch

Vulcan’s Debut with Peregrine & NASA’s CLPS

As part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis program, United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Astrobotic are targeting 2:18 a.m. EST Monday, Jan. 8, for the first commercial robotic launch to the Moon’s surface. Carrying NASA science, liftoff of ULA’s Vulcan rocket and Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander will happen from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Rocket Launch

NASA’s Mission to Psyche

A 2.2 billion mile journey to study a metal-rich asteroid and hopefully unlock secrets related to the formation of rocky planets.