Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to launch an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the first batch of production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet constellation. Another ULA rocket, the Vulcan, will not be launching a previously assigned military GPS satellite. It has been reassigned to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, marking the second such change in recent months. Here’s what you need to know about these developments in the world of spaceflight.
ULA’s Atlas V Launch: Project Kuiper Takes Flight
Scheduled for liftoff at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Atlas V will deploy 27 satellites into low-Earth orbit, kicking off Amazon’s ambitious plan to build a 3,236-satellite mega-constellation to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network. The rocket will fly in its powerful 551 configuration, equipped with five solid rocket boosters and a medium-length payload fairing, ensuring it can handle the hefty payload. This mission marks a critical step for Amazon as it transitions from test satellites to operational ones, aiming to provide global broadband coverage.
The launch window opens at 7pm and extends to 9pm, and weather conditions at Cape Canaveral are currently favorable, though final updates will be available closer to the event. ULA, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, has a strong track record with the Atlas V, which is nearing the end of its service life as the company shifts focus to its newer Vulcan rocket. After this mission, only 15 Atlas V rockets remain in ULA’s inventory, with production winding down to prioritize Vulcan manufacturing.
SpaceX Steps In: GPS III SV-08 Reassigned
The U.S. Space Force announced on April 7 that a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, known as GPS III SV-08, will no longer launch on ULA’s Vulcan as originally planned. Instead, it will lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than late May 2025 from Cape Canaveral. This reassignment follows a pattern, as the GPS III SV-07 satellite was similarly moved to a Falcon 9 last year, launching successfully in December 2024 under the “Rapid Response Trailblazer” initiative.
The Space Force’s decision stems from a backlog of military satellites awaiting launch, compounded by delays in certifying ULA’s Vulcan rocket for national security missions. Vulcan, which completed its second test flight in October 2024 despite a solid rocket booster malfunction, received certification recently but still faces a packed schedule with 89 missions in its backlog. To expedite the GPS III SV-08 launch, the Space Force opted for SpaceX’s reliable and readily available Falcon 9. In exchange, a future GPS mission originally assigned to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy will now fly on Vulcan, balancing contractual obligations between the two providers.
Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for launch execution at Space Systems Command, emphasized the flexibility this swap demonstrates: “This launch executes a vehicle trade… showcasing our ability to launch in three months, compared to the typical 24 months.” The GPS III SV-08, built by Lockheed Martin, arrived in Florida on April 2 via a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and is undergoing final preparations. As the eighth of ten GPS III satellites, it will replace an aging member of the constellation, enhancing accuracy and anti-jamming capabilities for global navigation.
What’s Next?
ULA aims to ramp up Vulcan’s flight cadence to twice monthly, with its first national security mission, USSF-106, potentially launching this summer. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to dominate with its frequent launches—28 Falcon 9 flights in 2025 alone as of early April—proving its agility in meeting both commercial and military demands.
For the Atlas V launch, viewers can tune into ULA’s live stream, typically available on their website, starting about 20 minutes before liftoff. The SpaceX GPS mission, still weeks away, will offer another chance to see how the Space Force navigates its dual-provider strategy. Together, these events highlight the evolving dynamics of the U.S. space industry, blending legacy systems with innovative newcomers to keep critical satellites soaring.
