SpaceX intends to send up another group of U.S. reconnaissance satellites from California’s central coast this evening (Jan. 9).
A Falcon 9 rocket is prepared to take off from Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight at 10:52 p.m. EST (7:52 p.m. local California time; 0352 GMT on Jan. 11) as part of the NROL-153 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
SpaceX will stream the event live through its X account, with coverage commencing approximately 10 minutes prior to launch.
NROL-153 marks the seventh liftoff supporting the NRO’s “proliferated architecture,” which the agency has characterized as encompassing “numerous, smaller satellites designed for capability and resilience.”
Related: SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight of the year (video, photos)
Details are somewhat limited, as the NRO generally maintains confidentiality regarding its orbiting assets. Nevertheless, the satellites within the proliferated architecture are believed to be “Starshield” vehicles — adapted versions of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications satellites equipped with advanced surveillance technology.
The six previous missions related to the proliferated architecture were also conducted using Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg, occurring between May and December of the prior year.
If everything goes as planned, the first stage of the Falcon 9 will return for a landing on the drone vessel named “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean approximately eight minutes post-launch this evening.
This will mark the 22nd launch and landing for this specific booster, as per a SpaceX mission overview.
Meanwhile, the upper stage of the rocket will proceed with placing its secret satellites into orbit. Details regarding when or where exactly they will be launched remain undisclosed; SpaceX’s mission overview does not reveal that information.