GPS III launches successfully, begins 'talking' to ground control

The Air Force’s GPS III satellite launched this morning has begun “talking” with engineers and operators from ground control, according to a statement from spacecraft builder Lockheed Martin.

“GPS III Space Vehicle 01 (GPS III SV01) is now receiving and responding to commands from Lockheed Martin's Launch and Checkout Center at the company's Denver facility,” the statement reads. Air Force and company engineers declared satellite control signal acquisition and rocket booster separation about 119 minutes after GPS III SV01's launch. 

The satellite lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 8:51 a.m. EST after three cancellations due to either weather or bad sensor readings on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

The successful deployment represents two significant firsts for the Air Force and the national security space launch community: the launch of the first Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite and the first time SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket have flown an NSS mission.

Air Force officials have said previously this weekend’s launch could set the stage for future Air Force reusable launch missions.