Tag: Starshield
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NRO, SpaceX launch reconnaissance satellites from Vandenberg
A long exposure shot showing the ascent of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East and the return of the booster, 1100, to Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base during the NROL-105 mission on Jan. 16, 2026. Image: SpaceX Update Jan. 17, 12 a.m. EST (0500 UTC): SpaceX landed its…
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SpaceX launches third NRO mission in eight days
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base ahead of the launch of the NROL-145 mission. Image: SpaceX Update April 20, 9 a.m. EDT: SpaceX landed the booster on the droneship. America’s spy satellite agency, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), launched its third mission in eight…
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SpaceX launches Starshield satellites for the NRO on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 12, 2025, carrying satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. Image: SpaceX. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launched its ninth mission supporting its so-called proliferated architecture satellite constellation using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, dubbed NROL-192, also marked a big milestone…
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SpaceX launches 450th Falcon 9 rocket, breaks booster turnaround record on NRO mission
A streak shot of the liftoff and booster landing for the NROL-57 mission on March 21, 2025. Image: SpaceX The National Reconnaissance Office launched its eighth batch of satellites to support its proliferated architecture constellation. The mission includes a number of notable milestones for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket program, including a record-fast turnaround time for…
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SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
A SpaceX rocket ascends from Space Launch Complex 40 on the Starlink 12-20 mission on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Image: Spaceflight Now SpaceX launched its first Falcon 9 rocket of the month and its first Starlink flight since reportedly reaching 5 million subscribers for the satellite internet service on Sunday night. Liftoff of the Starlink…
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SpaceX launches Starshield satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from California for the NRO
File: The Falcon 9 at sunrise Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 as final preparations were made for the NROL-167 mission. Image: SpaceX. Update 10:37 a.m. EST (1537 UTC): The first stage booster successfully landed on the droneship. Before sunrise Tuesday morning, SpaceX completed its final mission supporting the National Reconnaissance Office in 2024. The Falcon 9…
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SpaceX launches combination of NRO Starshield and Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight
Nine Merlin 1D engines power the Falcon 9 rocket into space on the NROL-126 mission. Image: SpaceX. Update 10:24 a.m. EST (1524 UTC) Nov. 30: Added post-launch statement from the NRO. SpaceX launched a mission early Saturday that blends national security satellites with those supporting its non-governmental Starlink satellite network. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex…
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SpaceX launches 4th batch of Starshield satellites for the NRO on its 100th Falcon 9 rocket of 2024
The Falcon 9 at sunrise Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 as final preparations were made for the NROL-167 mission. Image: SpaceX. SpaceX launch its fourth mission of the year for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) carrying satellites for its so-called “proliferated architecture,” which are believed to be Starshield satellites. The mission, dubbed NROL-167, added an unspecified…
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SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on national security mission for the NRO
A Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Station in California on the NROL-113 mission. Image: SpaceX. SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket with an undisclosed number of satellites on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The spacecraft, which are believed to be Starshield satellites, make up the third batch of what the…
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SpaceX launches multiple satellites for the NRO from Vandenberg Space Force Base
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the NROL-186 mission on June 28, 2024. Image: SpaceX SpaceX launched a national security mission on behalf of the United States’ National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday night. The spy agency described the classified mission as “the second…