NRO Begins Deployment of New Reconnaissance Satellite Constellation with SpaceX Launch
NRO Begins Deployment of New Reconnaissance Satellite Constellation with SpaceX Launch
The NRO begins deploying new reconnaissance satellites, starting with a successful SpaceX launch, enhancing global surveillance capabilities.
In the early hours of Wednesday, May 22, 2024, SpaceX successfully launched the first batch of satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) new reconnaissance satellite constellation. The mission, designated NROL-146, took off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1 a.m. PDT (4 a.m. EDT, 0800 UTC). The satellites were carried into orbit by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone for both SpaceX and the NRO.
Mission Details and Payload
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1071, launched for the 16th time. Its first two flights were for NRO missions, and it also launched a pair of Transporter rideshare flights. Approximately eight minutes after liftoff, B1071 landed on the SpaceX droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean, marking the 91st recovery for the vessel and the 310th booster landing for SpaceX to date.
While specific details about the payload remain classified, it is believed that the mission carried a batch of Starshield satellites, which are government-specific versions of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. Starshield satellites focus on three main areas: Earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.
Reports indicate that Northrop Grumman is collaborating with SpaceX to test some of the Starshield satellites and provide sensors for some of the spacecraft. The planned constellation is expected to consist of hundreds of satellites, with SpaceX receiving a previously undisclosed $1.8 billion contract from the NRO in 2021 for the project.
NRO's Proliferated Architecture
Dr. Chris Scolese, the head of the NRO, previously mentioned that the agency began launching prototypes for its constellation about five years ago to address challenges posed by Russia and China attempting to deny U.S. ability to operate in space and to provide more persistent coverage of the Earth. The NRO has been working with commercial providers to reduce costs associated with the constellation.
Dr. Troy Meink, the NRO’s principal deputy director, stated that while the NRO has launched several demonstrations over the past few years to verify cost and performance, NROL-146 marks the first launch of an operational system. He added that these systems will enhance timeliness of access, diversify communications pathways, and improve resilience.
The NRO plans approximately half a dozen launches for 2024, with additional launches expected through 2028. SpaceX has also built satellites for the Space Development Agency, part of the U.S. Space Force, which launched in 2023 as part of its Tracking Layer Tranche 0A and 0B missions.
SpaceX's Busy Launch Schedule
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