After being canceled yesterday due to inclement weather, Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch a satellite into mid-Earth orbit tonight, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. SpaceX has conducted roughly a dozen launches so far in 2026, with several more scheduled through February.
The GPS III-9 satellite will become part of the Global Positioning System (GPS) operated by U.S. Space Force, used by the military, apps, and other consumer technologies in the U.S.
“Our global financial markets, transportation systems, utilities, the ride-share industry, and our agriculture and construction industries also all depend on the positioning, navigation and timing signals from GPS satellites.”
The Countdown Begins — 10:31 PM ET
The Brevard County Emergency Management Office activated its launch operations support team.
Ready for Takeoff — 11:16 PM ET
SpaceX reports in a post on X that weather in Cape Canaveral seems favorable for tonight’s launch.
Watch the Launch Live — 11:40 PM ET
Watch SpaceX’s GPS III-9 launch mission livestream here.
The Falcon 9’s Planned Maneuver — 11:51 PM ET
Following the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket will begin it’s ascent into space. Once the GPS III-9 satellite separates, the rocket will return to a launchpad on Earth.
T-0 Seconds to Liftoff — 11:54 PM ET
T-zero seconds to takeoff, the rocket has launched into space, satellite in tow.
Falcon 9 Rocket’s First Stage Returns — 12:06 PM ET
Falcon 9 Rocket’s first stage returns to Earth, landing on a droneship.
The GPS III-9 Satellite is Deployed — 1:26 AM ET
The GPS III-9 Satellite has been successfully deployed into orbit.
SpaceX Success — 1:26 AM ET
SpaceX has confirmed the completion of GPS III-9’s launch into space, the U.S. Space Force’s third accelerated mission.
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