SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket at 7:52 PM, lifted the Rapid Response Trailblazer-1 (RRT-1) from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, on a mission for a U.S. national security space detail. The launch also demonstrates military capabilities to condense a typical two-year mission planning cycle to less than six months.
The military Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite is in a medium orbit approximately 12,000 miles above Earth.
All photos by Satnews.
About eight minutes after launch, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster returned and landed on a drone ship. SpaceX ended the livestream after the booster landing.
SpaceX to finally send off mysterious RRT-1 mission on Monday
SpaceX teams continue to keep a close eye on the weather as we work toward the next best launch opportunity of the RRT-1 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. A new target launch date will be shared once available.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about ten minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-9 and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Due to a negative offshore weather forecast, SpaceX again postponed its latest launch attempt of a Falcon 9 rocket on the RRT-1 mission until Monday, December 16th, at 4:52 PM PST from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
It is speculated that the RRT-1 mission will send an advanced GPS satellite to orbit — specifically, GPS 3-10, another member of the navigation network’s third generation of spacecraft. GPS-IIIA (Global Positioning System) is the first evolution stage of the third generation of the GPS satellites. It consists of the first ten (known as “tranche”) of GPS III satellites.
SpaceX is contracted to launch three of the satellites for the U.S. military and was launched in January 2023. However, SpaceX’s mission description doesn’t say anything about GPS satellites or explains what RRT-1 represents. Another unusual aspect is that the fairing that surrounds and protects the RRT-1 payload features no artwork or logos, an aspect that adds to the intrigue.
Then the company targeted a second launch window Sunday night from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory showed. But has been delayed to Monday night.
According to weather officials, there’s a 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 72°F, light rain, 17% cloud cover, a wind speed of 13mph and 0.23in of rain.
SpaceX to launch RRT-1 mission on Friday the 13th
SpaceX is targeting Friday, December 13 for a Falcon 9 launch of the RRT-1 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 8:04 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Saturday, December 14 starting at 7:59 p.m. ET.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about ten minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-9 and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to weather officials, there’s a 80% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 68°F, light rain, 100% cloud cover, a wind speed of 19mph and 0.13in of rain.
