On October 24, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the NROL-167 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1:13 p.m. Eastern. This mission marked the fourth batch of satellites for a new imaging satellite constellation being developed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. While the exact number of satellites deployed on this mission remains undisclosed, it represents a significant step towards the NRO's goal of establishing a large-scale network of satellites designed to track ground targets in near real time.
Following the successful separation of the rocket's stages, the first stage of the Falcon 9 landed on a drone ship stationed in the Pacific Ocean, demonstrating SpaceX's reusable launch vehicle capabilities. The NRO, responsible for designing and operating classified U.S. government surveillance and intelligence satellites, had previously launched the first three batches of this constellation in May, June, and September. The completion of four launches within just five months highlights the remarkable pace of deployment for this program, which the NRO describes as the U.S. government's largest satellite constellation in history.
Further launches supporting the NRO's proliferated architecture are anticipated through 2028, indicating a sustained effort to build and enhance this critical capability for national security.