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FIRST GPS III LAUNCH, Dec 23, 2018, Cape Canaveral, FL, 8:51 am ET (webcast)
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UPDATE, Dec 23: GPS III was successfully launched today.
UPDATE, Dec 22, 9:20 am ET: The launch was scrubbed due to upper level winds. Will try again tomorrow, December 23, at 8:51 am ET.
UPDATE, Dec 20, 2:00 pm ET: SpaceX now says it will try yet again on December 22 at 8:55 am ET. It asserts the weather is 80% favorable.
UPDATE, Dec 20, 8:35 am ET: The launch has been delayed again because of weather. No new date set.
UPDATE, Dec 19, 9:05 pm ET: SpaceX says it will try again tomorrow, Dec. 20, but the weather is only 20 percent favorable. The 26 minute launch window opens at 9:03 am ET.
Team is working toward launch of GPS III SV01 tomorrow, December 20. Weather remains a challenge; currently forecasted at 20% favorable during the 26-minute launch window which opens at 9:03 a.m. EST, 14:03 UTC.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 20, 2018
UPDATE, Dec 19, 8:00 am ET: SpaceX has postponed the launch again. No new date set yet.
Standing down from today’s launch attempt of GPS III SV01 to further evaluate out of family reading on first stage sensors; will confirm a new launch date once complete.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 19, 2018
UPDATE Dec 18, 9:35 am ET: The launch was scrubbed when an onboard computer detected an “out of family reading on first stage sensors.” There was not enough time left in the launch window to recover, so they are recycling for launch tomorrow. The window opens at 9:07 am ET.
UPDATE Dec 18, 8:42 am ET: SpaceX says the launch time has slipped to 9:34 am ET, close to the end of today’s window, due to upper level winds. If the launch does not go today, the next opportunity is tomorrow, Dec. 19, at 9:07 am ET.
SpaceX will launch the first of the new generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, GPS III SV01, on December 18, 2018. The weather forecast as of December 17 is 90% go for launch.
Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend the launch.
SpaceX usually webcasts its launches. SpaceX confirmed on December 17 that the launch window is open 9:11-9:37 am ET. The launch will be webcast.
SpaceX’s Hans Koneigsmann has said that the company will not attempt to return the Falcon 9 first stage to a landing this time because all the fuel is needed for the launch.