A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) NROL-153 mission on January 9, marking a key step in the agency’s rapid expansion of its low Earth orbit satellite constellation. The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carried classified payloads designed to enhance US intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
This mission is the seventh under the NRO’s proliferated architecture strategy, which focuses on smaller, distributed satellites for enhanced resilience and responsiveness. Over the past year, the agency has deployed nearly 100 satellites, with plans for about a dozen launches in 2025, half of which will focus on this strategy.
The shift aims to provide greater coverage, faster data delivery, and increased resistance to threats such as anti-satellite weapons. The NRO’s proliferated architecture relies on SpaceX and Northrop Grumman-built satellites equipped with advanced remote-sensing capabilities for real-time data on enemy movements and critical intelligence to support US military operations.
Source: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-nrol-153-expanding-u-s-spy-satellite-constellation