The National Reconnaissance Office and Space Systems Command have launched the NROL-69 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The launch highlights the ongoing partnership with SSC to ensure reliable access to space for national security missions, NRO said Monday. During the operation, Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 and returned to landing zone 1 after delivering the payload to orbit.
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Advancing US National Security Interest
The partnership under the National Security Space Launch program is a critical step in protecting U.S. interests in space, according to Col. Eric Zarybnisky, director of NRO’s Office of Space Launch. “Together, we are advancing national security by ensuring the U.S. maintains resilient and cost-effective space capabilities to meet evolving threats and deliver vital intelligence,” he explained.
Prior to the mission’s start, the launch team examined the flight hardware and integration elements to reduce risks, said Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader of launch execution at the U.S. Space Force.
“It was our first NSSL mission this calendar year and it hit the mark right in the middle,” he added.
Creating an Advanced Satellite Constellation
NROL-69 is the NRO’s initial mission with SpaceX under the SSC-supervised NSSL program. In the past two years, the office has sent over 150 satellites into orbit to establish what it characterizes as the most advanced government constellation in U.S. history. The NRO has scheduled more launches in 2025 to advance its mission of rapidly delivering the right data to the right user at the right time.
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