CYA: SpaceX’s New Rocket Studied by Air Force, Delaying GPS Upgrades.

The GPS III satellites being built by Lockheed Martin Corp. promise increased accuracy for navigation, a signal compatible with similar European satellites and improved security against cyberattacks. But the satellites meant to upgrade the Global Positioning System, which is widely used for military and civilian applications, are already years behind schedule.

The planned GPS III launch “has slipped due to ongoing SpaceX qualification testing and final engineering reviews by both SpaceX and the Air Force of Falcon 9 design changes,” the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center said in a statement to Bloomberg News. The service is “working closely” with SpaceX to complete the reviews and issue a “Flight Worthiness Certification just prior to launch,” it said.

The rockets are fine; it’s the paperwork that’s slow.