USA-581

USA-581, also known as GPS-III SV09, NAVSTAR 85, and Ellison Onizuka, is a United States navigation satellite which forms part of the Global Positioning System.

Satellite

SV09 was the ninth GPS Block III satellite to launch. The spacecraft is built on the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus, and weighs in at. The space vehicle manufacturing contract was awarded September 2016. The satellite was named "Ellison Onizuka" on 12 May 2021 following its successful core mate assembly. It was declared "Available for Launch" on 23 Aug 2022.

The satellite's launch was originally awarded to ULA but it was later switched to SpaceX because of delays in ULA's Vulcan rocket certification. In exchange, ULA was awarded another GPS launch originally planned for Falcon Heavy.
SV09 was launched by SpaceX on 28 January 2026 at, atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.