On November 30th, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the NROL-126 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The launch, originating from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 3:10 a.m. Eastern, was notable for its unusual circumstances.
While the launch was officially scheduled and announced, a live broadcast was not initially available. A live feed only appeared shortly before main engine cutoff. The reason for this remains unclear, potentially due to operational decisions or specific requests from the NRO. This mission represents the fifth launch within the NRO’s proliferated architecture of imaging satellites, a collaborative effort between SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
Unlike previous NRO satellite launches, NROL-126 included a unique payload. In addition to an unspecified number of government satellites, the mission also deployed 20 of SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites. This blended approach is a departure from past practices.
The Falcon 9’s first stage booster successfully landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean approximately eight minutes after liftoff. This marked the first flight for this particular booster. The NRO, responsible for designing and operating classified U.S. government surveillance and intelligence satellites, aims to rapidly deploy this new network for near real-time ground target tracking.