SpaceX Falcon 9 Has Successful Launch from Vandenberg

Update by the National Reconnaissance Office
April 17, 2022

The National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched the NROL-85 mission aboard a reflown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4E located at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California today at 6:13 a.m. Pacific Time. The Falcon 9 reusable rocket booster returned safely to Landing Zone 4 after delivering the national security payload to orbit.

NROL-85 is NRO’s second launch this year and the first time NRO has reused a rocket booster previously launched to space. The rocket booster core was first launched from VSFB only two months ago, and delivered the NROL-87 mission to orbit. NROL-85 is the 61st launch since NRO began publicly disclosing launches in December 1996. 

“All launches are exciting, but this one, with our first-ever re-use of a booster, is a striking indication of how NRO is building innovation and resiliency into everything we do,” said Col. Chad Davis, NRO’s director of the Office of Space Launch. “Reusing the booster shows we are continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible while delivering greater value. It reduces our costs, which reflects our commitment to using taxpayer dollars responsibly. This is a great example of how the NRO is working to be a leader in space stewardship.”

NROL-85 is NRO’s fourth launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the second Falcon 9 launch procured through the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract. NSSL, a government launch acquisition program aimed at ensuring continued access to space for national security missions, is overseen and operated through U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. Along with SSC, USSF’s Space Launch Delta 30 was another mission partner supporting today’s launch.

“Launching a payload into orbit is the most dynamic aspect of the NRO’s mission, but the work that happens behind the scenes–designing, building, and operating our architecture in space–is no less critical to our mission of securing and expanding America’s intelligence advantage,” said NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese. “I’m proud of the teamwork, skill, and determination that went into making this launch a success and ultimately to delivering critical information to our nation’s policymakers, military, and Intelligence Community.”

Since 1961, NRO has pushed the envelope of U.S. space-based intelligence collection with boldness and ingenuity. Today, NRO’s innovative legacy continues to thrive as it develops, acquires, launches, and operates the world’s most capable spy satellites. NROL-85 will strengthen NRO’s ability to provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information to national  decision makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts to protect the Nation’s vital interests and support humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Additional information on upcoming launches will be made available at NRO.gov/launch

Photo: NRO

By Ronald Williams

Those waiting for an Easter sunrise were treated to a stirring spectacle with the bright "Pink Moon" suspended in the southwest, followed by the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its NROL-85 spy satellite payload. It lifted off at 6:13 am and was visible about 60 miles away in Santa Barbara two minutes later, then, three minutes after that, we could hear the thunderous roar of the two stage rocket. About eight minutes after launch the first stage made a successful vertical landing back at Vandenberg AFB. What a way to begin Easter Day!

Update by the edhat staff

The launch window has been rescheduled to no earlier than Sunday due to high winds on Saturday.

Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Rescheduled for Sunday

By edhat staff
April 15, 2022

SpaceX has rescheduled its Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base to be no earlier than Saturday.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the launch was postponed due to technical difficulties. The launch is now planned for 6:27 a.m. on Saturday, April 16. 

Falcon 9's launch of the NROL-85 mission will take place from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg.

"The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched the NROL-87 mission in February 2022. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will return and land on Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California," according to SpaceX.

Falcon 9 is a reusable, two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of people and payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. Falcon 9 is the world’s first orbital class reusable rocket. Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which in turn drives down the cost of space access.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.