Over the past two years, NRO has launched more than 200 satellites, creating the largest and most capable government constellation on orbit in our nation’s history. Continuing with this momentum, 2025 has proven to be another dynamic year, with nine NRO missions launched so far. Additional proliferated launches are planned through 2029, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.
The decision to deploy smaller, less capable spy satellites in larger numbers under the proliferated architecture program was a tradeoff to boost global coverage, he explained.NRO was well known for its large, high-performing sensors that were placed aboard large, expensive spacecraft. Now, it is concentrating on lofting hundreds of smaller satellites that may not be as capable but cover a lot more ground.“Right now, we have more satellites on orbit, from a government standpoint, than we’ve ever had — and we’re continuing to grow that,” he said. It “is going to provide orders of magnitude more data to our users around the world,” with more than 200 of them already in orbit.“We will have several more launches next year, but we’re already seeing great output from these systems,” he said.
Suspected twelfth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.
SPACEX NROL 105, VANDENBERG SFB, CA PRIMARY: 01/17/26 0418Z-0536ZBACKUP: 01/18/26 0404Z-0522Z
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX is scheduled to launch THE NROL-105 MISSION ON January 16, 2026, FROM SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX-4E AT VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE (VSFB), CALIFORNIA.
SpaceX is targeting Friday, January 16 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-105 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 35-minute launch window opens at 8:18 p.m. PT with a backup opportunity available at 8:04 p.m. PT on Saturday, January 17.A live webcast of the NROL-105 mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.This is the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
On May 22, 2024, the NRO marked a new era of increased volume and diversity of on-orbit and ground systems with the first launch of its proliferated system, NROL-146. The NRO continued it’s rapid expansion of this system with eleven successful launches between 2024-2025. Approximately a half-dozen additional launches supporting NRO’s proliferated architecture are planned for 2026, with additional launches expected through 2029.
NRO@NRO_gov·LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-105 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET January 16. This mission is NRO’s 12th overall proliferated architecture launch and first of 2026!
Primary Launch Day 17 JAN 0418Z-0536ZBackup Launch Day 18 JAN 0404Z-0522ZBackup Launch Day 19 JAN 0350Z-0508ZBackup Launch Day 20 JAN 0337Z-0455ZBackup Launch Day 21 JAN 0323Z-0441ZBackup Launch Day 22 JAN 0309Z-0427ZBackup Launch Day 23 JAN 0255Z-0413Z
QuoteSpaceX is targeting Friday, January 16 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-105 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 35-minute launch window opens at 8:18 p.m. PT with a backup opportunity available at 8:04 p.m. PT on Saturday, January 17.A live webcast of the NROL-105 mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.This is the second flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
SpaceX@SpaceXFalcon 9 is vertical at pad 4E in California ahead of today’s launch of the @NRO_gov’s NROL-105 mission → http://spacex.com/launches/nrol105
