CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX is preparing to launch a U.S. government GPS satellite, which is named after Hedy Lamar, an actress and inventor. 

SpaceX stated its Falcon 9 rocket will send up the GPS III-8 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 on Tuesday morning.

The 15-minute window opens at 2:53 a.m. ET.  

The 45th Weather Squadron has given a 90% chance of good liftoff conditions, with the only concerns being cumulus clouds and the thick cloud layers rules.

If the launch is a scrub, the next attempt will be Wednesday at 2:49 a.m. ET.

Lucky 7?

This will be the seventh launch for this Falcon 9’s first-stage booster, named B1095.

1. Starlink 12-15 mission
2. Starlink 10-56 mission
3. Starlink 10-52 mission
4. Starlink 6-86 mission
5. Starlink 6-101 mission
6. Starlink 10-48 mission

If all goes well, the first-stage booster will land on the droneship called Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean.

About the mission

The Falcon 9 will send up the GPS III-8 (SV10) satellite to a medium-Earth orbit.

“GPS III satellites are the most advanced type built thus far, designed to deliver stronger signals, higher accuracy and to provide greater resilience for both military and civilian users. The series boasts improved timing devices, increased military code (M-code) capability and additional civilian signals that increase urban performance and international compatibility. SV-10 brings the total constellation to 32 active satellites and 8 backup systems,” stated the U.S. Space Force’s Space System Command in a press release.

In addition, the satellite is named after Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, who was an inventor who helped establish wireless communication, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.