After delays due to weather, on 16 December, U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command and Space Operations Command executed an accelerated timeline to meet a specific warfighter need through a Rapid Response Trailblazer launch.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched this National Security Space Launch mission with a GPS III Space Vehicle aboard, named SV-07, from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
The mission successfully achieved a complex effort across multiple Space Force organizations to pull an existing GPS III satellite from storage, accelerate integration and launch vehicle readiness, and rapidly process for launch.
The success of the launch proved a two-fold concept of operations. For SSC, Assured Access to Space successfully demonstrated and highlighted its agility in partnership with industry to respond to changing national needs by executing an NSS-class launch in less than five months.
“This launch was a remarkable achievement that highlights the Space Force’s ability to execute high priority launches of major space systems on a significantly reduced timescale,” said Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader of Launch Execution for AATS. “As an added benefit, it also demonstrates flexibility to adjust our manifest to minimize the impact of Vulcan delays. In this case, revised planning for this RRT began at launch minus-five months instead of our normal launch minus-24 months. It not only demonstrates the teams’ ability to respond to emergent constellation needs but is a testament to our flexibility and responsiveness to deliver capability as rapidly as Space Vehicle readiness allows. In this case, it’s not just the warfighter, but also the nation and our allies around the world that rely on GPS on a daily basis.”
For SpOC, the event not only marked a first for Mission Delta 31 as the SV lead but also demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness by reducing the typical six-month SV pre-launch processing timeline to approximately three months. Similar to the flexibility with launch partners for AATS, this also included coordination with MD 31 and Lockheed Martin in Colorado to process SV-07 out of storage within the reduced timescale.
“This was an amazing effort across multiple teams and agencies,” said Col. Andrew Menschner, Delta 31 mission commander. “This launch showed our ability to respond quickly to an operational need, such as an on-orbit vehicle failure of the GPS constellation, as well as demonstrating our willingness to challenge traditional timelines associated with launches in response to a realistic scenario.”
This launch was the first exercise of trailblazer capabilities for the GPS constellation.
“We have a very healthy GPS constellation, now with 31 active vehicles, seven on orbit in reserve status and three GPS III vehicles completed and awaiting launch,” Menschner said. “Over six billion people use GPS on a daily basis, and we are always eager to update the global capability we provide by getting some new technology on orbit.”
Key enablers required to accelerate the mission spanned multiple disciplines and organizations, addressing technical matters such as space vehicle-to-launch vehicle integration, on-console satellite control preparedness, along with nimble contracting and procurement actions.
“The launch and spacecraft teams quickly aligned to execute this campaign and demonstrated the resiliency, communication and teamwork necessary to resolve schedule and technical challenges without compromising mission success,” said Dr. Walt Lauderdale, Falcon Systems and Operations chief and launch mission director. “This partnership is an example of new and faster ways we can deliver launch in support of future warfighter needs. The Space Force quickly energized multiple organizations, and the joint team delivered a specific, important mission to orbit in record time.”
All GPS III space vehicles, including SV07, are equipped with M-code. M-Code is an advanced, new signal designed to improve anti-jamming and anti-spoofing, as well as increase secure access to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied armed forces. GPS III space vehicles provide up to eight times more anti-jamming power than GPS II space vehicles, and M-code has been in operational acceptance since 2020.
