SpaceX Rocket Successfully Launches US Spy Satellite

Science

A US intelligence agency said Wednesday that its newest spy satellite successfully launched into orbit atop a reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The SpaceX rocket took off at 12:27 pm local time (01:57am IST on February 3) from the Vandenberg Air Force base in California, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which is in charge of the US Space Force, said in a statement.

After releasing the satellite, dubbed NROL-87, into orbit, the Falcon 9 rocket then landed back at the base, the agency said.

“NROL-87 is designed, built, and operated by the NRO to support its overhead reconnaissance mission,” the statement said.

The NRO gave few other details about the satellite but said it will “provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information.”

The NRO, a division of the US Defense Department, operates a large network of surveillance satellites, and is headquartered near Washington, in northern Virginia.

NROL-87, the first satellite launched by the NRO in 2022, is the third time the agency has used a Falcon 9 rocket.

The NRO has launched 16 other satellites over the past two years.


Articles You May Like

Putin says Russia and China fighting ‘common threats’ as Xi promotes Ukraine ‘peace plan’ ahead of Moscow visit
Manchester United owners extend second bid deadline as contenders prepare offers
Putin and Xi praise ‘no limits friendship’ during Chinese president’s trip to Russia
Investment banks Cenkos and finnCap to merge in all-share deal
Millions of mobile phone and internet users set to have to pay much higher bills this time next week