The Space Force has moved a critical GPS III satellite from ULA's Vulcan rocket to SpaceX's Falcon 9 after the rocket's first flight encountered problems. GPS III SV10, weighing more than four tons, will now launch in late April on a Falcon 9. This marks the second time the military has had to find an alternative launch provider for a high-priority satellite.

SpaceX's reusable rocket fleet and frequent launch cadence made it the obvious backup choice. With multiple boosters flying several times weekly, the company can accommodate urgent military payloads on short notice. ULA's Vulcan remains grounded while engineers investigate the January launch anomaly that prevented the rocket from reaching orbit.

This switch highlights ULA's fall from its former position as the military's sole launch provider. After SpaceX entered the national security launch market in 2018, the company has steadily captured more contracts. The Space Force now relies on SpaceX for assured access to space, despite ULA holding over $8 billion in backlog military launch contracts.