SpaceX Launches 9th Batch Of NRO Spy Satellites For US Government

SpaceX has launched the 9th batch of advanced reconnaissance satellites for the U.S. Government on April 12, 2025. The satellites were launched into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

What happened: On April 12, 2025, as part of the NROL-192 mission, a Falcon 9 rocket was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California's central coast. The rocket was carrying next-gen NRO satellites.

The NRO — National Reconnaissance Office — is part of the U.S. Government's intelligence community and focuses on building reconnaissance satellites to launch into orbit and operating them.

The satellites are based on the NRO's ‘proliferated architecture', which is a constellation of government satellites in orbit. The office says the ‘rapid deployment of NRO's proliferated constellation benefits national customers and helps deliver ‘critical data to NRO's stakeholders faster than ever before.'

Why it matters: This launch comes at a time when SpaceX is also set to launch Intuitive Machines Inc.’s LUNR fourth lunar mission on the Falcon 9 rocket in 2027. 

SpaceX is also looking to bolster its presence in the space-based internet sector throughout the globe as it offers free Starlink hardware in countries like Italy and Australia. 

SpaceX has been under scrutiny by some experts, who hail the company's growth as impressive due to Starlink but cast doubt on its valuation. Starlink currently enjoys a global user base of over 5 million users and is present in over 100 countries globally.

Interestingly, Elon Musk's businesses have received over $38 billion in funding from the U.S. Government, according to a report published by The Washington Post.

The billionaire is also the head of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), aimed at streamlining and cutting costs within the U.S. government.

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