SpaceX set for NROL-172 launch of NRO satellites

SpaceX plans to launch a batch of intelligence-gathering satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on May 11, 2026. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:13:50 p.m. PDT from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The mission, designated NROL-172, marks the 13th flight supporting the NRO's proliferated architecture constellation. The satellites aim to provide greater revisit rates, increased coverage, and redundancy by eliminating single points of failure. The Geospatial Intelligence Systems Acquisitions Directorate contributes electro-optical, radar, and relay satellites to the effort.

Relay satellites will enable inter-satellite optical communications and form part of the NRO's resilient communications architecture as well as the Department of War's planned space-data network. The NRO has offered limited public details on satellite quantities or specific capabilities.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1103, will fly for the second time after its April 7 Starlink mission. Approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the booster is targeted to land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean.

This launch represents the second NRO mission under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract. The first occurred April 20, 2025, as NROL-145.