NROL-145 Mission: SpaceX Launches 10th Batch Of US Spy Satellites

SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the 10th batch of next-generation spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on April 20, as part of the NROL-145 mission. Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1229 UTC.

The Falcon 9's first stage landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean about eight minutes after liftoff as planned. It was the 12th launch and landing for this particular booster, according to SpaceX.

NROL-145 was the 10th launch in support of NRO's "proliferated architecture," a new network consisting of many cost-effective small satellites rather than a few highly capable, but expensive, ones.

"Having hundreds of small satellites on orbit is invaluable to the NRO's mission," NRO Director Chris Scolese said in a press kit about the proliferated architecture network, which you can find here.

"They will provide greater revisit rates, increased coverage, more timely delivery of information — and ultimately help us deliver more of what our customers need even faster," Scolese added.

The proliferated architecture craft are believed to be modified versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites, with some high-tech spy gear attached.

The first proliferated architecture mission launched in May 2024. All 10 of them have flown on Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg. On April 12, 2025, SpaceX launched the 9th batch of NRO spy satellites as part of the NROL-192 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

SpaceX has launched three fleets of spy satellites in just eight days, including the NROL-145 mission, demonstrating a rapid deployment capability.

The Elon Musk company is also preparing to launch Intuitive Machines Inc.’s LUNR fourth lunar mission on the Falcon 9 rocket in 2027.

SpaceX continues to expand its presence in the space-based internet sector, offering free Starlink hardware in countries like Italy and Australia.