Under the moonlight, a SpaceX rocket streaks through the sky en route to delivering a National Reconnaissance Office mission into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Under the moonlight, a SpaceX rocket streaks through the sky en route to delivering a National Reconnaissance Office mission into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: SpaceX photo

A new era of spy satellites launched with a Falcon 9 rocket’s liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base early Wednesday morning. 

The SpaceX rocket blasted off at 1 a.m. with a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. 

The mission known as NROL-146 marked the first for NRO’s “proliferated systems featuring responsive collection and rapid data delivery.”

Instead of behemoth satellites that take years to plan, build and launch, NRO is moving toward multiple smaller spacecraft, or what the government called a proliferated architecture. NRO said it has sent some demonstration satellites into orbit in recent years to verify cost and performance. 

The agency did not identify how many satellites the rocket delivered, their purpose or name.

“Our nation’s evolving threats and challenges require constant vigilance, innovation, and agility,” Chris Scolese, director of the Virginia-based NRO, said in a written statement after the launch.

The NROL-146 mission reflects the NRO’s commitment “to developing innovative, faster, and more resilient technologies” along with providing greater capabilities to the intelligence community, Department of Defense and U.S. allies, Scolese added.

“These systems provide key information that can only be obtained from the vantage point of space,” Scolese said. 

For the past 60 years, the NRO, made up of the military and CIA, has focused on delivering intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites systems.

“Over the next decade, we will continue to increase the number of satellites operating across multiple orbits — complementing the NRO’s cutting-edge, highly-capable satellites that are the traditional hallmark of the NRO — by adding responsive, proliferated systems,” Troy Meink, principal deputy director of the NRO, said in a written statement.

 “Our proliferated systems will increase timeliness of access, diversify communications pathways, and enhance our resilience,” Meink added.  

After climbing out of the clouds at Vandenberg Space Force Base, a Falcon 9 rocket carries a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
After climbing out of the clouds at Vandenberg Space Force Base, a Falcon 9 rocket carries a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Credit: SpaceX photo

While NRO leaders remained mum, many who follow the space industry suspect the satellites belong to the Starsheild system, likened to a military version of Starlink. 

A Marine Corps press release spells out how Starshield satellite allowed personnel to transmit data faster and to continue when power outages and cloud cover interfered with normal methods. 

Starshield has provided basic services such as email, telephony and data transmission along with what the military calls more complex and low-latency dependent capabilities such as targeting weapons. 

“They are much easier to configure, making it easier than ever before for Marines to get communications established,” the March press release said.

Approximately half a dozen launches supporting NRO’s proliferated architecture are planned for 2024, with additional launches expected through 2028, according to NRO. 

In addition to Vandenberg, NRO missions launch from Florida and Virginia. 

NRO’s existence and name remained top-secret for approximately 30 years, before the veil of secrecy slowly, and slightly lifted.

Wednesday’s mission marked the 17th Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg in 2024 with more than 50 liftoffs occurred for SpaceX including the Florida departures.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.