US Uses SpaceX Reusable Rocket for Advanced Satellite Launch

"Saving 73 Billion Won in Launch Costs with Reusable Rockets"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. Space Force's advanced positioning system (GPS) military satellite was launched aboard a reusable rocket made by the private space exploration company SpaceX. This marks the first time the U.S. has used a reusable rocket to launch a military security satellite.

Fox News and others reported on the 17th (local time) that "SpaceX successfully launched the 3rd generation advanced navigation satellite 'GPS III SV05' from the U.S. Space Force base at Cape Canaveral, Florida."

SpaceX, which has previously launched U.S. military security satellites three times, used the 'Falcon 9' reusable rocket for the first time on this occasion. SpaceX reused the Falcon 9 rocket booster B1062, which was used for the launch of the 'GPS III SV04' satellite in November last year.

The 3rd generation GPS satellite, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, successfully entered orbit about 20,000 km from the ground 1 hour and 30 minutes after launch. The science and technology media Ars Technica evaluated this as "breaking the last frontier of rocket reuse."

The Space Force saved $64.5 million (73 billion KRW) in launch costs through contract modifications to use reusable rockets, CBS reported. Previously, SpaceX won launch contracts for 5 out of 6 GPS III satellites ordered by the U.S. Department of Defense, and at the end of last year, through contract changes, decided to use reusable rockets for the launch of 2 satellites.