File: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket stands at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base ahead of the Starlink 9-10 mission on Nov. 8, 2024. Image: SpaceX
SpaceX is preparing to launch its third mission this year supporting the National Reconnaissance Office’s constellation of intelligence-gathering satellites.
The mission, dubbed NROL-179, will launch an undisclosed number of satellites into orbit as part of what the NRO calls its proliferated architecture constellation. These are believed to be Starshield satellites, a government variant of SpaceX’s Starlink, though neither the NRO nor SpaceX has confirmed on the record that this is the case.
Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from pad is scheduled during a 35-minute window that opens at Friday, June 19, at 1:40 a.m. PDT (4:40 a.m. EDT / 0840 UTC).
Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
