GPS III - 03 Matthew Henson

Named after African-American polar explorer Matthew Henson. Originally named Columbus.

Payload manufacturing contract awarded January 2012, fully assembled in August 2017, and completed thermal vacuum testing in June 2018. Launch contract was awarded initially for US96.5 million, but later, this was discounted in exchange for allowing to launch configuration enabling booster recovery. The vehicle nicknamed Columbus was transported to Florida in February 2020, but launch was delayed by the customer from April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch was dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased, late commander of the 21st Space Wing, Colonel Thomas G. Falzarano, and after launch, in October 2020, the nickname was changed to that of the Arctic explorer Matthew Henson. For second time, the second stage featured a gray banded Falcon long coast mission-extension kit, to allow more heat to be absorbed during the longer coasting period, while both fairings were recovered out of the water without attempting a catch in the net.