SpaceX successfully launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 10 (SV10) on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission, conducted on behalf of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), utilized a Falcon 9 rocket to deliver the final satellite of the GPS III generation into medium Earth orbit. This launch marks the completion of the current block of ten advanced positioning, navigation, and timing satellites designed to modernize the Global Positioning System.
The SV10 satellite, manufactured by Lockheed Martin at its GPS III Processing Facility near Denver, represents the pinnacle of the GPS III series. According to technical specifications provided by the U.S. Space Force, these satellites offer three times greater accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities compared to previous generations. The SV10 also features the modular Lockheed Martin LM 2100 bus and broadcasts the M-code signal, which provides enhanced secure positioning for military users while maintaining compatibility with international civilian signals.
The Falcon 9 first-stage booster used for this mission successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean approximately nine minutes after liftoff. This specific booster had previously supported multiple national security space launch missions. Colonel Douglas Pentecost, Deputy Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space, confirmed that the satellite was deployed into its intended transfer orbit roughly 90 minutes after launch. The Space Force’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Space Force Base will now begin several months of on-orbit testing before the satellite becomes fully operational within the existing constellation of 31 active satellites.
The launch was part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract framework. While specific mission costs for SV10 were not disclosed on launch day, the U.S. Air Force originally awarded SpaceX a $290 million contract in 2018 to launch three GPS III satellites, including SV10. Lockheed Martin’s total contract for the production of the ten GPS III satellites was valued at approximately $3.6 billion. With the completion of SV10, the Space Force is shifting its focus to the GPS IIIF (Follow-on) program, also led by Lockheed Martin, which includes an additional 22 satellites scheduled for launch starting in the coming years.
"The successful delivery of SV10 is a milestone for our national security infrastructure," stated Brigadier General Kristin Panzenhagen, commander of Space Launch Delta 45. "This final GPS III satellite ensures that both military and civilian users worldwide have access to the most resilient and precise signals available." SpaceX officials noted that this mission further solidifies the company’s role as a primary provider for the Department of Defense’s most critical orbital assets.