SpaceX launches American spy satellite into orbit
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a US National Bureau of Intelligence spy satellite into orbit on April 17 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Falcon 9 took off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at 9:13 am (local time).
After separating from the upper phase, the first phase of the rocket landed again in Landing Zone 4 about eight minutes after takeoff.
SpaceX won a contract from the U.S. Air Force in February 2019 to release the NROL-85 and NROL-87.
SpaceX had previously launched NRO satellites under commercial contracts.
The NRO builds and operates US government-classified surveillance and intelligence satellites.
This was the 148th launch of the Falcon 9 and the 14th missile mission in 2022.