WASHINGTON — The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has expanded its next-generation satellite tv for pc constellation to greater than 100 spacecraft, the company mentioned Dec. 17
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket early on Tuesday morning efficiently launched the newest mission, NROL-149, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This marks the sixth deployment within the company’s new proliferated structure program and its closing launch for 2024.
The newest launch follows on the heels of NROL-126, which took off on November 30, demonstrating a speedy tempo of deployment for the intelligence company’s formidable area program. The NRO’s proliferated structure is made up of imaging satellites constructed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.
The NRO, answerable for growing and working U.S. spy satellites, is shifting away from conventional massive, costly satellites towards a extra distributed community of smaller spacecraft. This method, often known as proliferated structure, goals to reinforce resilience and protection whereas probably decreasing vulnerability to anti-satellite weapons.
The company mentioned it has positioned greater than 100 payloads into orbit over the previous 18 months.
The NRO plans to proceed increasing the constellation by way of 2028.
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