SpaceX Launches NRO Satellite, 400th Reuse
SpaceX Launches NRO Satellite, Marking 400th Reusable Booster Launch
Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA – SpaceX successfully launched the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-192 mission on April 12, 2025, at 5:25 a.m. PDT. This mission, utilizing a Falcon 9 rocket, marked a significant milestone for SpaceX: the 400th launch of a previously flown Falcon booster. Specifically, booster B1071, making its 24th flight, successfully landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" approximately eight minutes after liftoff, marking its 430th successful landing.
NROL-192 supports the NRO's proliferated architecture satellite constellation, described by NRO Director Chris Scolese as "the world's most capable, resilient, and technologically advanced satellite constellation." This constellation, believed to consist of Starshield satellites – a government variant of SpaceX's Starlink – enhances reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering capabilities. Scolese highlighted improvements in data collection speed, responsiveness, and data processing, leading to faster insights for national security purposes. Over eight previous missions supporting this constellation, SpaceX launched more than 150 satellites for the NRO.
The NRO plans to continue launches for this architecture through 2029, with upcoming missions including NROL-145 and NROL-48. While SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets have been used exclusively for this constellation thus far, the NRO hasn't ruled out using United Launch Alliance's Vulcan or Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets in the future. This launch occurred amidst other SpaceX activities, including preparations for a crewed flight to the International Space Station and the upcoming second Starship test flight, pending final environmental review. A separate, classified NRO mission launched from Vandenberg on April 16th aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 rocket. The NRO also intends to increase its launch cadence, with the ninth and tenth constellation missions launching within days of each other in April.
Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA – SpaceX successfully launched the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) NROL-192 mission on April 12, 2025, at 5:25 a.m. PDT. This mission, utilizing a Falcon 9 rocket, marked a significant milestone for SpaceX: the 400th launch of a previously flown Falcon booster. Specifically, booster B1071, making its 24th flight, successfully landed on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" approximately eight minutes after liftoff, marking its 430th successful landing.
NROL-192 supports the NRO's proliferated architecture satellite constellation, described by NRO Director Chris Scolese as "the world's most capable, resilient, and technologically advanced satellite constellation." This constellation, believed to consist of Starshield satellites – a government variant of SpaceX's Starlink – enhances reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering capabilities. Scolese highlighted improvements in data collection speed, responsiveness, and data processing, leading to faster insights for national security purposes. Over eight previous missions supporting this constellation, SpaceX launched more than 150 satellites for the NRO.
The NRO plans to continue launches for this architecture through 2029, with upcoming missions including NROL-145 and NROL-48. While SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets have been used exclusively for this constellation thus far, the NRO hasn't ruled out using United Launch Alliance's Vulcan or Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets in the future. This launch occurred amidst other SpaceX activities, including preparations for a crewed flight to the International Space Station and the upcoming second Starship test flight, pending final environmental review. A separate, classified NRO mission launched from Vandenberg on April 16th aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 rocket. The NRO also intends to increase its launch cadence, with the ninth and tenth constellation missions launching within days of each other in April.
