SpaceX Deploys NRO’s Latest Reconnaissance Satellites in Low Earth Orbit

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:38 a.m. PDT (1:38 p.m. EDT / 1738 UTC). The mission, designated NROL-48, is widely believed to have carried Starshield satellites—a classified government variant of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network—though the NRO has not officially confirmed the payload details.

The rocket’s first-stage booster, B1081, was on its 18th flight, having previously supported NASA’s Crew-7 mission, multiple Earth-observing satellites (PACE, EarthCARE, TRACERS), and two large rideshare flights (Transporter-10 and Transporter-13). Roughly 7.5 minutes after launch, the booster successfully returned to Landing Zone 4, near the launch pad—its second return to land for an NRO proliferated mission. This marked SpaceX’s 29th recovery at LZ-4 and its 509th booster landing overall.

The NRO has been steadily expanding its proliferated architecture network since January, with four launches completed in the first four months of 2025. Designed for resilience and rapid data delivery, the constellation is expected to continue growing through 2029, eventually fielding hundreds of satellites to strengthen U.S. intelligence capabilities and counter potential adversary interference.

“The NRO continues to build and fortify the largest government constellation in history,” the agency said in a statement. “These satellites will provide faster revisit rates, expanded coverage, quicker data delivery, and enhanced support to our nation and partners.”

Most launches for the program have departed from Vandenberg, typically ending with booster landings on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You. The rare return to LZ-4 in this mission suggests a lighter payload—similar to April’s NROL-57 launch, which carried 11 satellites instead of the 20-plus typically deployed on missions requiring downrange recovery.

By Azhar