See photos of the early Tuesday SpaceX launch of a GPS III satellite from Florida

After weather delayed the liftoff a day, a SpaceX rocket launched into the Florida night carrying the latest GPS III satellite for the Space Force.

Launch occurred 2:53 a.m. Tuesday, April 21 from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, known as GPS III-8 SV 10, carried the latest GPS III satellite to orbit.

"I continue to be amazed by the professionalism, discipline and dedication of the men and women in this mission. Every day, they deliver the world's most trusted positioning, navigation and timing signal to billions of users across the globe," said USSF Col. Stephen A. Hobbs, Mission Delta 31 commander, Combat Forces Command (CFC) during a prelaunch media briefing. "Their work is quiet, precise and absolutely essential, and they do it with a level of excellence that makes me proud to serve alongside them."

Partners from Space System Command, SpaceX, to Lockheed Martin came together to make this mission and launch possible.

SV 10 is the 10th and final satellite in the Lockheed Martin-built GPS III manifest. It also marks the quickest turn around time between launches of the satellites, GPS III SV 9 launching in January.

"With each GPS launch, the constellation becomes stronger and with SV 10, that is the 10 GPS III satellite that is equipped with a anti-jam capability that's eight times stronger and three times more accurate than legacy spacecraft that's on orbit today," said Vice President, Global Positioning System at Lockheed Martin Fang Qian.

Even though it is the final satellite in the GPS III series, SV 10 has new technology onboard. This includes an optical crosslink payload which proves as a testing ground ahead of the IIIF satellites.

Qian said that SV 10 will also feature a digital atomic clock which may incorporate accurate timekeeping for the upcoming IIIF satellites.

"Lockheed Martin is dedicated to Space Force's effort to strengthening the GPS constellation and delivering these critical positioning, navigation and timing capabilities to the world and our military and civilian users," said Qian.

SpaceX announced this launch was the last Falcon 9 landing for the Just Read the Instructions drone ship. Going forward, the drone ship will be dedicated to Starship operations.

According to SpaceX, Just Read the Instructions supported 156 Falcon 9 landings and has been in operation since 2015.

When is the next Florida rocket launch?

The next launch from Florida is set for no earlier than 10:21 a.m. Monday, April 27 from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The launch is a rare one: A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying a Viasat broadband satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit. The last time the Space Coast saw a Falcon Heavy launch was the Oct. 2024 Europa Clipper mission for NASA.

Expect to see the rocket's two side boosters come back for a landing at Cape Canaveral Landing Zones 2 and 40, giving off twin sonic booms.

Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @brookeofstars.