SpaceX launches NROL-186 mission from California

SpaceX has launched the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) NROL-186 satellite with a reusable Falcon 9 rocket. The liftoff was called on Friday, June 28 at 8:14 p.m. PT from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

After the engine cutoff and stage separation, the booster landed on a droneship. This was the eighth flight for the first stage and previously supported Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, and two Starlink missions.

Watch Falcon 9 launch the @NatReconOfc’s NROL-186 mission from pad 4E in California https://t.co/RTt3ZyXL6I

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 29, 2024

Aside from the launch detail, the payload remains classified and designated orbit class. This launch comes a month after SpaceX launched NROL-146 satellite from the same pad in California.