A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NROL-126 mission on Thursday, carrying surveillance satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) alongside 20 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites.
The rocket lifted off at 3:10 a.m. Eastern from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base, the NRO said in a statement. Unlike previous launches, this mission lacked a live broadcast of the liftoff, with coverage beginning only after the main engine cutoff. The agency did not disclose whether this decision was operational or based on specific requests.
Watch Falcon 9 launch the @NatReconOfc's NROL-126 mission and 20 @Starlink satellites to orbit from pad 4E in California https://t.co/sietQBtxWX
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 30, 2024
“This mission represents another step forward in our commitment to deploying a robust and resilient space architecture to meet national security needs,” an NRO spokesperson said.
The launch marked the fifth mission for the NRO's proliferated architecture of imaging satellites, developed in collaboration with SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. Previous batches of NRO satellites were sent to low Earth orbit in May, June, September, and October.
In an unusual move, the NROL-126 mission included both government payloads and SpaceX's own satellites. While the exact number of classified NRO satellites remains undisclosed, the inclusion of Starlink units underscores SpaceX's dual role in commercial and governmental space endeavors.
Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage booster landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. This marked the inaugural flight for this particular booster, continuing SpaceX's emphasis on reusability.
The NRO, which designs and operates classified intelligence satellites, is rapidly expanding its satellite network to enable near-real-time tracking of ground targets, a capability deemed critical for national security.
