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SpaceX Launches Air Force's Most Powerful GPS Satellite Ever Built (cbsnews.com)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket roared to life and streaked away from Cape Canaveral early Sunday carrying the first in a powerful new generation of GPS navigation satellites into orbit. It was the California rocket builder's 21st launch this year and its first Pentagon-sanctioned national security mission. From a report: Propelled by 1.2 million pounds of thrust from its nine first stage engines, the 229-foot-tall rocket lifted off at 8:51 a.m. EST (GMT-5), climbing straight away from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It was the 20th major rocket launch from Florida this year, the busiest pace since 1998. The launching came five days late because of a last-minute problem with first stage propellant temperatures Tuesday and stormy weather Thursday. High winds forced another 24-hour delay Saturday, but conditions were ideal Sunday and the rocket put on a spectacular show as it raced away to the northeast through a cloudless sky.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the newly reconstituted National Space Council, was on hand for Tuesday's initial launch try but flew back to Washington after touring SpaceX facilities at the Kennedy Space Center. "The most important thing is that we get that rocket up safely and securely and it achieves its mission," Pence told spaceport workers. "I know this bird is going to fly and when it flies, it's going to make a difference for the security and prosperity of the American people." Pence has taken an active role in directing the Trump administration's revised national space policy, calling for establishment of a military "Space Force," increased commercial development in low-Earth orbit and continued NASA development of a huge new rocket and spacecraft to carry astronauts back to the moon.
Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the newly reconstituted National Space Council, was on hand for Tuesday's initial launch try but flew back to Washington after touring SpaceX facilities at the Kennedy Space Center. "The most important thing is that we get that rocket up safely and securely and it achieves its mission," Pence told spaceport workers. "I know this bird is going to fly and when it flies, it's going to make a difference for the security and prosperity of the American people." Pence has taken an active role in directing the Trump administration's revised national space policy, calling for establishment of a military "Space Force," increased commercial development in low-Earth orbit and continued NASA development of a huge new rocket and spacecraft to carry astronauts back to the moon.
A bit over 21 GWatt continuous, as I recall. So powerful, instead of merely telling you where you are, it will be able to relocate an equipped vehicle by up to 320 Km displacement. It took quite a bit of work to ensure the displacement would match ground elevation levels, since relocating a land vehicle too far above ground would result in adverse passenger effects, and relocating in the other direction would do the same, plus inject toxic material (gasoline, diesel, e-waste, human remains) underground where it could get into drinking water. They use detailed surface topographic maps and millimeter wave RADAR to micro-correct the maps for vertical land surface movement, several centimeters of which occurs over the course of a year due mostly to aquifer levels (it's almost like the earth breaths). They decided to aim for 2-3 cm above ground level at the destination; you'll feel a bounce as your vehicle drops to ground. If they didn't do this your tires could end up fused into the pavement by a few mm due to measurement errors and quantum fluctuations. Of course military and police/fire/med will get priority usage, but they should be rolling out US civilian accounts in a year or two; you'll be able to bypass commuter traffic for around $3500 per year. Another early adopter will be civil aviation; when they roll out multi-hop flights you'll be able to fly coast to coast in under an hour. Apple, Samsung and Moto are equipping phones, so by the time civ accounts roll out you probably won't even need a vehicle. That 3cm elevation will still be required, so bend your knees a bit to anticipate a little drop (you get used to that pretty fast). Wheelchair makers are going to need to think about active suspension or some kind of pneumatics to handle this without causing spinal injuries.