10.01.2025, 10:12
A SpaceX rocket launched a group of US reconnaissance satellites into orbit
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS The Falcon 9 rocket launched another group of reconnaissance satellites of the US National Directorate of Military Space Intelligence (NRO) into orbit on Friday, the SpaceX carrier development company said.
The rocket was launched from the SLC-4E launch pad at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday at 19:53 Pacific Coast time (Friday at 06:53 Moscow time). About an hour later, the satellites entered orbit.
As part of the NROL-153 mission, the seventh batch of mini-optical and electronic reconnaissance satellites has been launched into orbit since last year. Detailed information about the purpose of the mini-satellites and their number is strictly classified.
Earlier, representatives of the NRO reported that they were striving to quadruple the number of their vehicles in orbit. According to them, this, combined with new technologies on satellites, will provide a tenfold increase in the volume of intelligence gathering. Smaller and more numerous satellites will allow for much more frequent monitoring of critical areas, which will lead to faster acquisition of intelligence information, the ministry said.
The satellites were created under a $1.8 billion contract signed by the NRO in 2021 with SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
As part of the launch, the first reusable stage of the launch vehicle, which was used for the 22nd time, after separation made a controlled vertical landing on the marine platform, the drone Of Course I Still Love You, which was located in the Pacific Ocean.
The rocket was launched from the SLC-4E launch pad at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday at 19:53 Pacific Coast time (Friday at 06:53 Moscow time). About an hour later, the satellites entered orbit.
As part of the NROL-153 mission, the seventh batch of mini-optical and electronic reconnaissance satellites has been launched into orbit since last year. Detailed information about the purpose of the mini-satellites and their number is strictly classified.
Earlier, representatives of the NRO reported that they were striving to quadruple the number of their vehicles in orbit. According to them, this, combined with new technologies on satellites, will provide a tenfold increase in the volume of intelligence gathering. Smaller and more numerous satellites will allow for much more frequent monitoring of critical areas, which will lead to faster acquisition of intelligence information, the ministry said.
The satellites were created under a $1.8 billion contract signed by the NRO in 2021 with SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
As part of the launch, the first reusable stage of the launch vehicle, which was used for the 22nd time, after separation made a controlled vertical landing on the marine platform, the drone Of Course I Still Love You, which was located in the Pacific Ocean.
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