A SpaceX rocket has launched the first bunch of next-generation reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office in a major milestone for national security. The mission, known as NROL-146, was finally able to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4:00 a.m. Eastern after poor weather finally yielded to good conditions, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of U.S. intelligence capabilities.
The Falcon 9, a two-stage rocket from SpaceX, took an undisclosed number of small satellites into orbit. This is typical for missions conducted by the NRO and many times does not provide real information about the mission and capability of its payloads. The recovered first stage of “Of Course, I Still Love You”, a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, marked SpaceX’s 310th booster recovery.
That new NRO constellation, to which SpaceX and Northrop Grumman are contributors, represents but one more step toward a “proliferated overhead architecture” that puts more but smaller satellites in orbit to increase the resilience and capability of key systems. “These systems provide key information that can only be obtained from the vantage point of space,” said NRO Director Chris Scolese.
This launch is important because it represents the first operational deployment after years of demonstrations to prove our cost and performance, said Dr. Troy Meink, the NRO’s principal deputy director. “These systems will increase timeliness of access, diversify communications pathways, and enhance our resilience,” he added. Meink also said that about half a dozen similar launches are planned for 2024, with several more expected through 2028.
The mission is a reaffirmation of the commitment of the NRO to come up with more innovative and quicker technologies. Over the years, the agency has reduced costs by working with commercial providers to multiply the number of satellites in orbit. The approach seeks to quadruple the number of spacecraft to enable it to make more revisits faster around critical areas and hasten the delivery of vital intelligence.
It again does not say how many satellites are being launched, but NRO’s strategy of launching more numerous, smaller satellites is pointed out to provide rapid data collection and delivery across multiple orbits. This will complement its highly capable, traditional satellites with a layer of responsiveness and resilience.
The mission of NROL-146 is a major milestone towards achieving this goal of the NRO in developing the proliferated satellite architecture of U.S. intelligence capabilities. And, of course, as the agency expands its constellation, more collaboration will be required with commercial entities like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman to maintain strategic advantage in space.