On December 11, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (SSC), System Delta 80, Space Launch Delta 45, and SpaceX, announced that it successfully launched the NROL-77 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Dec. 9, 2025, at 2:16 p.m. ET. The Falcon 9 first stage booster safely returned to Landing Zone 2 after delivering the national security payload to orbit. This successful mission highlights the close working relationship between NRO and SSC to ensure reliable and cost-effective access to space for national security missions.
“The partnership between NRO and SSC continues to strengthen our nation’s space superiority through innovative launch solutions and shared expertise,” said Col. Kathryn Cantu, director, NRO Office of Space Launch, and NROL-77 mission director. “As space becomes increasingly contested, this partnership enables us to rapidly deploy advanced intelligence capabilities while maintaining the agility and resilience needed to address emerging threats. Our collaborative approach ensures America’s continued leadership in space-based national security operations well into the future.”
NROL-77 is the second NRO mission launched with SpaceX from the NSSL Phase 2 contract awarded in August 2020. NSSL, a government launch acquisition partnership program between SSC and NRO aimed at ensuring continued assured access to space for national security missions, is overseen and operated by SSC’s System Delta 80 headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. Earlier this Spring, NRO partnered with SSC to launch NROL-69 and NROL-145 through the NSSL program and NROL-174 through the Rocket Systems Launch Program.
“A collaborative team of dedicated experts from System Delta 80, NRO, and SpaceX validated the flight hardware and integration essentials that assured successful delivery of the mission,” said Col. Ryan M. Hiserote, System Delta 80 commander and NSSL program manager. “And kudos to our SSC SLD-45 teammates who operated the range systems and infrastructure as part of this launch. NROL-77 was our last NSSL mission this calendar year. Together, we look forward to another busy year in 2026.”
Source: NRO
Time is running out — become a paid subscriber to IC News today, and lock in subscription rates at 2025 prices. You’ll get full access to breaking news from across the IC contracting space, with new articles each weekday.
By 
