When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the GPS III SV10 satellite for the U.S. Space Force from Florida on April 21, 2026. | Credit: SpaceXSpaceX launched a new GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force early Tuesday morning (April 21) — a mission that was originally supposed to fly on a competitor’s rocket.A Falcon 9 rocket topped with the GPS III SV10 satellite lifted off from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday at 2:53 a.m. EDT (0653 GMT).AdvertisementAdvertisementGPS III SV10 (short for “Space Vehicle 10″) is the 10th and final satellite in the United States’ advanced GPS III line.”GPS III satellites have a three-fold increase in positional accuracy and an eight-fold improvement in jam resistance compared to prior versions,” Space Force officials said in a statement on Jan. 28, just after GPS III SV09 rode a Falcon 9 to orbit.”These advanced features enable the constellation to provide an across-the-board boost in effectiveness and lethality to weapon systems in every theater,” they added.GPS III SV10 was originally supposed to fly aboard United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket. Last month, however, the Space Force announced that it was switching the satellite to a Falcon 9 due to issues that Vulcan has experienced with its solid rocket boosters (SRBs).AdvertisementAdvertisementAs part of this rocket swap, Vulcan Centaur will now launch the USSF-70 national security mission, which had been slated to fly on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. USSF-70 is expected to launch no earlier than summer 2028, Space Force officials have said. (Presumably, Vulcan Centaur’s SRB issues will be worked out by then.)The Falcon 9’s first stage rests on the deck of a ship at sea shortly after launching the GPS III SV10 satellite on April 21, 2026. | Credit: SpaceXThe Falcon 9’s first stage came back to Earth about 8.5 minutes after launch as planned on Tuesday, touching down softly in the Atlantic Ocean on the SpaceX droneship “Just Read the Instructions.”It was the seventh launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. And it was the final Falcon landing for “Just Rea …
