The National Reconnaissance Office has deployed a research and development demonstrator from Space Launch Complex-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 15.
Launching Payloads Via Rideshare Mission
NRO said Saturday the payload was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission. This marked the second Second R&D mission launched by NRO in 2025. The Otter R&D payload was launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission in January.
The R&D demonstrator includes two 6U CubeSats intended for an NRO experimental technology research mission. It was designed and operated by the agency’s Advanced Systems & Technology directorate.
Aaron Weiner, director of NRO’s AS&T, remarked, “The NRO’s commitment to demonstrating experimental technology in orbit allows us to stay at the forefront of innovation. Through efforts like this, AS&T is posturing the NRO to maintain its advantage in delivering space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems that are responsive to future national security challenges.”
The agency has consistently fulfilled the needs of the U.S. intelligence, military, civil and allied partners for over 60 years. This includes space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, systems. NRO is developing advanced systems to safeguard data and expedite its delivery.
