The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-105 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on January 16, 2026, at 11:39 p.m. EST.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster safely returned to Landing Zone 4 after delivering the national security payload to orbit. This mission is the twelfth overall launch of the NRO’s proliferated architecture and first of approximately a dozen NRO launches scheduled throughout 2026 consisting of proliferated and national security missions.
Having hundreds of NRO satellites on orbit is critical to supporting our nation and its partners. This growing constellation enhances mission resilience and capability through reduced revisit times, improved persistent coverage, and accelerated processing and delivery of critical data.
Through sustained launch activity and accelerated deployment of next-generation systems, NRO fields the most advanced and capable government constellation our nation has ever delivered with hundreds of satellites now on orbit. Additional proliferated launches are planned through 2029, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.
Source: NRO
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