A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NROL-113 mission lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
SpaceX continues to keep busy.
One of the company’s Falcon 9 rockets lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight (Sept. 5) at 11:20 p.m. EDT (8:20 p.m. local California time; 0320 GMT on Sept. 6 ), sending a batch of next-gen spy satellites aloft for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
It was SpaceX’s second launch of the day; another Falcon 9 delivered 21 of the company’s Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida’s Space Coast this morning.
The Falcon 9 aced its landing during tonight’s mission, which the NRO called NROL-113. About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster settled down softly on the deck of the SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
It was the 20th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. Fourteen of those flights have been Starlink missions.
NROL-113 was the third launch servicing the NRO’s
SpaceX launches next-gen spy satellites for US government
