Sun 17 April 2022:
SpaceX successfully launched one of its Falcon 9 carrier rockets with a US intelligence satellite on board on Sunday, broadcasting the launch live.
The launch took place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 9:13 a.m. local time (13:13 GMT). The rocket is putting into orbit the NROL-85 mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/b8ZCn4z61E
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 17, 2022
Vandenberg said that NROL-85 was the first NRO mission to reuse a SpaceX rocket booster, and it was the second National Security Space Launch Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg.
Following the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9, Vandenberg said the mission’s first stage returned to land on Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
“Today the Western Range teamed with the National Reconnaissance Office to deliver a critical national security payload, which will provide our warfighters and decision-makers with vital intelligence data,” said Col. Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander. “This is the 20th NRO launch from the Western Range since 1996 and I’m proud of both the team today and the long-standing and strong partnership with the NRO. Go NROL-85!”
The rocket’s first stage has already landed in the vicinity of the launch site. This is its second launch as it was previously used for putting another intelligence satellite into orbit.
The NRO is a US government agency that develops, builds, launches and operates US spy satellites that provide intelligence data to the 18 agencies comprising the US intelligence community and the Defense Department.
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