Summary
Another successful SpaceX launch for Space Force's top-secret spy satellites. The NROL-113 mission was the third launch of the NRO's proliferated satellite network. SpaceX's booster successfully landed back on Earth, marking its 20th mission.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on the night of September 5th, carrying a new batch of next-generation spy satellites into orbit for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The Space Force is responsible for the US's fleet of spy satellites. Separately, Space Force has recently awarded SpaceX and ULA a $1.8 billion contract for launches through 2027.
Space Force launches another set of spy satellites
SpaceX's mission (NROL-113) for Space Force's spy satellites went smoothly. As these are advanced spy satellites, it should come as little surprise that little is known about them or exactly what they are meant to do in orbit. Much about them is classified. Spaceflight Now stated that the satellites are believed to be Starshield satellites.
"The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-113 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on September 5, 2024 at 11:20 p.m. EDT." - National Reconnaissance Office
The NRO noted that NROL-113 was the "third launch of NRO's proliferated architecture." This refers to a new network made up of numerous smaller satellites designed for "capability and resilience." According to Space.com, SpaceX launched the first mission (NROL-146) in May, and the second (NROL-186) was launched in June. NRO is planning to launch six missions for its proliferated architecture in 2024.
Photo: Space Force
The National Reconnaissance Office is regarded as one of the "big five" US intelligence agencies (alongside the CIA, NSA, DIA, and NGA). Its role is to design, build, and operate federal spy satellites. Its federal workforce is a hybrid organization that includes Space Force personnel. It was founded in 1961, but its existence was classified and not publicly revealed until 1992. The NRO is known to work closely with the Space Force (which was formed in 2019).
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20th mission for 'seasoned' Falcon 9 booster
About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the reusable booster (tail number B1063) returned to earth, landing on the SpaceX droneship called "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific. This was the 100th such landing on that droneship and the 345th booster landing to date. SpaceX has grown to dominate the space launch market, and this wasn't even the only launch SpaceX conducted that day. Another Falcon 9 also blasted off from Florida, carrying another batch of 21 Starlink internet satellites into orbit.
Photo: USSF
SpaceX said this was the 20th launch and landing mission of that particular booster (B1063). Other missions for the booster include launches of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the Transporter-7 rideshare mission, and 14 Starlink satellite missions. Spaceflight Now called the booster the most "seasoned" to launch Space Force missions.