Space Force Reassigns GPS III Launch to SpaceX

The United States Space Force announced on March 20 that it has reassigned the launch of its final GPS III satellite, Space Vehicle 10, from United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket to SpaceX's Falcon 9, citing ongoing issues with the Vulcan that have grounded national security missions. The satellite, part of a constellation providing critical positioning, navigation, and timing services for military and civilian use, is now scheduled for no earlier than late April 2026 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The decision stems from anomalies in the Vulcan's solid rocket boosters observed during two of its four flights since debuting in January 2024. The first issue occurred on the rocket's second flight in October 2024, when a manufacturing defect caused the loss of a booster's exhaust nozzle shortly after liftoff. A similar problem arose during the USSF-87 mission in February 2025, prompting the Space Force to pause all national security launches on the Vulcan until an investigation concludes. Although the rocket reached orbit and met mission objectives in both cases, officials determined the recurring failures required further...