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Home/Energy/SpaceX set for NROL-172 launch of NRO satellites
VERIFIEDBy Xavier Rivera· ·1 min read

SpaceX set for NROL-172 launch of NRO satellites

SpaceX will launch NROL-172 on May 11 with NRO intelligence satellites on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg. The mission advances the agency's proliferated satellite constellation under a new U.S. Space Force contract.

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SpaceX set for NROL-172 launch of NRO satellites
TL;DRAI · 60 sec read

SpaceX plans NROL-172 launch on May 11, 2026, at 7:13:50 p.m. PDT from Vandenberg SLC-4E, deploying NRO intelligence satellites on Falcon 9 with booster B1103 on second flight. The second Phase 3 Lane 1 contract mission adds proliferated architecture satellites, including electro-optical, radar, and relay types. These boost revisit rates, coverage, redundancy, and inter-satellite optical communications.

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.
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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.
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