SpaceX passed a major milestone Sunday, launching its first national security mission for the United States government.

The private aerospace company, owned by controversial billionaire Elon Musk, shot a $500 million GPS satellite into orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite carried by the Falcon 9 was designed for the Air Force and constructed by Lockheed Martin. The rocket successfully left Cape Canaveral in Florida at approximately 8:51 a.m. Eastern time and successfully deployed its payload several hours later.


According to the Verge, GPS III is expected to eventually help the Air Force have more accurate geolocation services.

The launch went smoothly after it had been delayed multiple times over the past several days because of weather.

SpaceX won a $83 billion contact with the Air Force in 2016 after it had sued in 2014 over a noncompete contract that was awarded to United Launch Alliance.

The highlight of SpaceX’s 2018 was the first launch of Falcon Heavy, which is preparing for a launch of the U.S. Air Force’s classified military satellite sometime in 2020.

This year, SpaceX also launched its final Falcon 9 variant and sent its first experimental Internet satellites into orbit.

In addition, 42-year old Yusaku Maezawa is expected to board SpaceX’s still-in-development Big Falcon rocket in 2023 to become the fist private citizen to travel to the moon, the company also announced in 2018.