WASHINGTON — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Oct. 24 launched the NROL-167 mission for the Nationwide Reconnaissance Workplace.
The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Area Power Base in California at 1:13 p.m. Jap.
NROL-167 was the fourth batch of satellites of a brand new imaging satellite tv for pc constellation constructed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. The variety of satellites on this mission was not disclosed.
The NRO is working to quickly deploy a brand new community of satellites designed to observe floor targets in close to actual time.
Following stage separation, the Falcon 9’s first stage landed on a drone ship stationed within the Pacific Ocean.
The NRO designs and operates labeled U.S. authorities surveillance and intelligence satellites. SpaceX launched the primary three batches of the company’s proliferated constellation in low Earth orbit in Might, June and September.
The completion of 4 launches over simply 5 months highlights the fast tempo of deployment for this program that the NRO describes because the U.S. authorities’s largest satellite tv for pc constellation in historical past.
Extra launches supporting NRO’s proliferated structure are anticipated via 2028.
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