{"id":17374,"date":"2020-04-07T21:53:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T21:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/07\/space-force-delays-gps-launch-to-minimize-covid-19-exposure\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:00:12","slug":"space-force-delays-gps-launch-to-minimize-covid-19-exposure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/space\/2020\/04\/07\/space-force-delays-gps-launch-to-minimize-covid-19-exposure\/","title":{"rendered":"Space Force delays GPS 3 launch to minimize COVID-19 exposure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Space Force will reschedule the April 29 launch of the third GPS III satellite as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Space and Missile Systems Center announced April 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do not make this decision lightly, however, given our GPS constellation remains strong, we have the opportunity to make a deliberate decision to maintain our mission assurance posture, without introducing additional health risk to personnel or mission risk to the launch,\u201d said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, the head of the Space and Missile Systems Center and the program executive officer for space. \u201cAs the COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to national security, likewise, rescheduling the launch is in the interest of national security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t