Image: SpaceX
SpaceX successfully launched the NROL-48 mission on Monday morning, sending a new batch of reconnaissance satellites into orbit for the U.S. government’s National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 10:38 a.m. PT/1:38 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission marked the 18th flight for the first-stage booster B1081, which has previously flown Crew-7, NASA’s EarthCARE and TRACERS missions, and several Starlink and rideshare deployments. About 7.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster touched down safely at Landing Zone 4, marking SpaceX’s 509th booster recovery overall and the 29th at LZ-4. Watch the full launch in the video below:
The NRO hasn’t disclosed details about the payload, but it is widely believed to consist of Starshield satellites (a more secure version of SpaceX’s Starlink service for governments and national security applications). These satellites are part of the agency’s “proliferated architecture,” a growing constellation designed to provide more resilient, near-continuous surveillance coverage. The system could ultimately deploy hundreds of satellites into orbit by 2029, providing faster data delivery and greater resistance to adversary interference.
The landing back at Vandenberg suggests NROL-48 carried fewer satellites compared to missions that require Falcon 9 to expend more energy and land on a drone ship. For comparison, a similar mission earlier this year carried 11 satellites, while drone ship recoveries have been tied to heavier payloads of 20+ satellites.
Monday’s flight came just a day after SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites from Florida aboard another Falcon 9 rocket, highlighting the company’s relentless pace. CEO Elon Musk recently said SpaceX could be responsible for delivering more than 95% of Earth’s payload to orbit by next year once the next-generation Starship rocket enters service. The company also recently unveiled plans to build brand-new Starship launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as it readies for Starship’s heavy-lift future.
With NROL-48, SpaceX continues its role as the U.S. government’s workhorse launch provider, further cementing its dominance in global spaceflight.
