Sat Dec 14 01:00:00 UTC 2024: ## SpaceX Launches Mystery Payload Tonight; Speculation Mounts Over GPS Satellite
**Cape Canaveral, FL** – SpaceX is set to launch a secretive mission tonight, December 13th, at 8:04 p.m. ET. The launch, designated RRT-1, will utilize a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The event will be livestreamed on SpaceX’s X account approximately 10 minutes prior to liftoff.
While SpaceX remains tight-lipped about the payload’s identity, many space observers believe RRT-1 is GPS 3-10, an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. military. This would be the second GPS satellite launched by SpaceX under a contract with the military. The lack of identifying markings on the payload fairing and the absence of details in the mission description, however, fuel speculation.
The Falcon 9’s first stage is expected to land on the drone ship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” approximately 8.5 minutes after launch, marking its fourth successful landing. The upper stage will deploy the payload into orbit roughly 90 minutes after launch.
First Piper 