Space Force, SpaceX launch third GPS satellite, recover Falcon 9 booster

摘要

The Space Force today successfully launched the third GPS Ⅲ satellite from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket - the company's second GPS mission and the Defense Department's launch to include a booster recovery. The launch lifted off this afternoon from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. The satellite will provide the Space Force with an improved GPS capability, and it also served as the first DOD mission to demonstrate recovery of a used rocket booster. The launch was initially meant to use an expendable rocket, but Space Force officials negotiated a deal with SpaceX whereby the service would reduce some mission requirements to allow the company to recover the booster in exchange for a reduced launch price from SpaceX.Walt Lauderdale, chief of SMC's Falcon systems operations division, told reporters last week the deal cut "several million dollars" off the cost of the launch, which was originally priced at about $96 million.