***The NROL146 launch was obscured with heavy fog early in the morning at Vandenberg.*** ***Photo captured on Wednesday, May 22, by Satnews from SpaceX video stream.***

On Wednesday, May 22 at 1:00 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched the NROL-146 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The mission was described as the first launch of NRO’s proliferated architecture, delivering critical space-based ISR to the nation. The NRO officials wrote that the motto “describes the NRONRO’s new strategy of a proliferated overhead architecture — numerous, smaller satellites designed for capability and resilience.”

Because the mission was secretive there was no footage of the stages of the Falcon 9 rocket separating.

***Touchdown as the booster for the NROL146 landed. Photo captured on Wednesday, May 22, by Satnews from SpaceX video stream.***

This was the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and nine Starlink missions. This was the 52nd orbital liftoff for SpaceX in 2024 in which 36 have been dedicated to building the Starlink broadband constellation.

UPDATE SpaceX schedules Wednesday to launch NROL146 on a secret mission

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SpaceX is now targeting Wednesday, May 22 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-146 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is aimed for 1:00 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 3:28 a.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Thursday, May 23 starting at 1:14 a.m. PT.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about 10 minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 16th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and nine Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.Edit Post

SpaceX to launch NROL146 on a secret mission to “increase timeliness of access, diversity of communication paths and enhance our resilience”

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#NROL146 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base (@SLDelta30) May 19! This is the first launch of NRO’s proliferated architecture, delivering critical space-based ISR to the nation.

This is the first batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.

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Gen. Stephen Whiting, #USSPACECOM commander, hosted the Spring 2024 Commander’s Conference where component command teams, joint directors, and experts discussed major planning efforts, advancing USSPACECOM’s mission to deter aggression in space.

Troy Meink, principal deputy director, spoke about #NROL146 at Space Symposium 39, “This launch will be the first launch of an actual operational system. This system will increase timeliness of access, diversity of communication paths and enhance our resilience.”