The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched the NROL-85 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket today at 6:13 a.m. from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
“We launched our second National Security Space Launch SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base and it was superb. The integrated team, the rocket, the satellite, everything was GO and this launch went smoothly,” said Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of the Space Systems Command’s Launch Enterprise. “With each launch, we add to the nation’s capabilities. Putting capability in space is what we do, and together we’re fielding the tools needed to address the threat. And we’ve built fantastic partnerships with industry and teammates such as the NRO to efficiently deliver these systems to orbit.”
This is the second National Security Space Launch Falcon 9 launched from Vandenberg, and the sixth Falcon 9 NSSL launch to date.
“We achieved this success by working together, ensuring every facet of this mission was thoughtfully planned and carefully accomplished,” said Dr Walt Lauderdale, Chief of SSC’s Launch Enterprise Falcon Division. “The NRO, SpaceX and the Space Systems Command’s 30th Space Launch Delta and Launch Enterprise remained mission-focused and placed critical national capabilities on orbit to support our country’s needs. Semper supra!” Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for rapidly identifying, prototyping and fielding resilient space capabilities for joint warfighters. SSC delivers sustainable joint space warfighting capabilities to defend the nation and its allies while disrupting adversaries in the contested space domain. SSC mission areas include launch acquisition and operations; space domain awareness; positioning, navigation and timing; missile warning; satellite communication; and cross-mission ground, command and control data.
