The Azerbaijan State News Agency

WORLD

SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites and sticks the landing

SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites and sticks the landing

Baku, May 23, AZERTAC

SpaceX launced a pioneering set of spy satellites for the U.S. government early on Wednesday morning, according to Space.com.

A Falcon 9 rocket carried the NROL-146 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to space after liftoff from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base at 4 a.m. EDT (0800 GMT; 1 a.m. local California time).

We don't know much about the payloads sent to space as part of the NROL-146 mission, which isn't surprising; the NRO typically reveals little about its satellites' activities and capabilities. For the same reason, there was no footage of the stages of the Falcon 9 rocket separating.

Around six minutes after launch, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket began its entry burn, a key step in its safe return to Earth.

The first stage touched down on the drone ship Of Course I still Love You, stationed in the Pacific Ocean, around nine minutes after launch. This was the 16th launch and landing for this particular Falcon 9 first stage rocket, according to SpaceX.

In a prelaunch mission description, NRO stated that NROL-146 will be "the first launch of NRO's proliferated architecture." The agency explained a bit more about that architecture when discussing the mission's tagline, "Strength in Numbers."

That motto "describes the NRO's new strategy of a proliferated overhead architecture — numerous, smaller satellites designed for capability and resilience," NRO officials wrote.

It's therefore probably safe to assume that multiple small satellites launched as part of the NROL-146 misison, rather than a single bulky spacecraft.

A SpaceX mission description didn't say where the satellites are headed or give an expected time for their deployment, details that SpaceX usually includes for non-classified missions.

Wednesday morning's launch was the 52nd orbital liftoff for SpaceX in 2024. Of this year's 52 launches to date, 36 have been devoted to building out the company's Starlink broadband constellation.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Spain defeat Croatia 3-0 in Group B game at EURO 2024

President of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar congratulates Azerbaijan on National Salvation Day and 3rd anniversary of Shusha Declaration

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulates people of Azerbaijan on National Salvation Day

President Ilham Aliyev shared post on Eid al-Adha

Azerbaijan Army holds series of events on National Salvation Day

Shusha-hosted conference features panel session on "Turkic World-2040: a conceptual vision of the future"

Switzerland beat Hungary 3-1 in Group A match of EURO 2024

Shusha hosts discussions on party diplomacy as a new dialogue platform

Turkish ministers congratulate leadership and people of Azerbaijan on National Salvation Day

Doncic scores 29, Mavericks roll past Celtics 122-84 to avoid a sweep in NBA Finals

Chinese military delegation continues visit to Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Ministry: We will be together forever as "One nation, two states"

Earth's climate might have been influenced by sun's passage through dense interstellar cloud: Study

Azerbaijani Premier and Speaker of Milli Majlis visit grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Alley of Honors

Azerbaijan's defense ministry organizes media tour to Military Trophy Park VIDEO

Shusha hosts discussions on regional contribution of Organization of Turkic States to global security

National Leader Heydar Aliyev's services in Turkic world are remembered today with great appreciation, says Deputy Chairman of New Azerbaijan Party

Title holders Italy to play Albania in their EURO 2024 group opener on Saturday

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva made post on occasion of June 15 - National Salvation Day

Shusha hosts conference on “Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms"

Azerbaijani President: Relations between countries of Organization of Turkic States represent a very important factor for stability, security and development

To His Majesty Charles III, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

President Ilham Aliyev: Cooperation among political parties of countries of Organization of Turkic States plays an important role in realization of common goals

Pope warns of potential dangers from AI

To the participants of the international conference on “Organization of Turkic States: towards new strategic goals in the context of geopolitical realities and global cataclysms”

Hosts Germany beat 10-man Scotland 5 - 1 in UEFA EURO 2024 opener

President Ilham Aliyev made post on June 15 - National Salvation Day

COP29 Chief Executive Officer meets with EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan

IOC EB proposes creation of “Olympic Esports Games” to IOC Session

Azerbaijani rower ranks 3rd in BRICS Sports Games Kazan 2024

Azerbaijan Army positions in Nakhchivan direction once again subjected to fire

Baku hosts event on climate change and its impact on population dynamics as part of the "29 Climate Conversations: The Road to COP29" series

Azerbaijan 3x3 basketball team ready for action in FIBA Women’s Series Clermont-Ferrand Stop 2024

Azerbaijan Army’s Chief of General Staff watches tactical-special exercise of engineering units

"Azerkhalcha" OJSC and Aydan Salahova signed a joint project - "Woman" triptych carpet

From Daniel Noboa Azín, Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador

Azerbaijani, Bangladesh’s foreign ministries hold political consultations

From Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Awareness-raising event on “State guarantees for rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities” arranged as part of Human Rights Month

Azerbaijan, Serbia discuss military cooperation

Coastal Cleanup Initiative organized with COP29 volunteers

From Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, President of the Republic of Iraq

Astana hosts meeting on COP29 preparations

ASCO orders BS new vessels

Azerbaijan exports crude oil and oil products worth $6.258 billion in January-May 2024

AZPROMO, "Enterprise Greece" ink Memorandum of Understanding

4 forest officials killed while extinguishing fire in India's Uttarakhand

Azerbaijani sambo fighter grabs bronze in BRICS Sports Games Kazan 2024

Germany eyes boost in tourism revenue during UEFA Euro 2024

Why is Germany opposed to EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles?

Gender equality linked to men eating more meat

Ambassador of Brazil visits Baku Higher Oil School

Storied Titian painting found at London bus stop after theft goes to auction

SOCAR, Baker Hughes sign Cooperation Agreement

Coca-Cola files applications to register 8 trademarks in Russia

Solar energy production in Azerbaijan increased 8 times

UNEC in "THE Impact 2024" ranking

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates people of Azerbaijan on Eid al-Adha

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister meets with Chinese military delegation

Moscow to host 102nd meeting of CIS Economic Council

Message of congratulation to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Eid al-Adha

COP29 Presidency launches COP29 Academy

S. Korea, U.S., Japan expected to hold 1st trilateral multidomain exercise late June

® Winners of “AZERCELL CUP 2024” competition announced

5,000 sturgeons released into Caspian Sea as part of CANSO event

® Kapital Bank offers advantageous options to customers with cash loans and credit cards from other banks

June 14 marks World Blood Donor Day

Oil prices down in world markets

Azerbaijani oil price rises in global markets

Azerbaijan Army positions in Nakhchivan direction once again subjected to fire

Assistant to the President Hikmet Hajiyev participates in political dialogue in "NATO + Azerbaijan" format in Brussels and conducts several meetings

Hybrid-format event on decolonization and role of communication held

Azerbaijani wrestlers ready for action in Poland

Baku Initiative Group to continue supporting Kanak people's struggle for independence

ACLU, immigrant rights groups sue to stop Biden border policy

Czech ambassador to Azerbaijan informed about preparations for COP29

NATO's Mobile Training Team conducts course at Azerbaijan Air Force

Italy's premier kicks off G7 summit to discuss global issues, Ukraine, Mideast

AFFA president meets with Fernando Santos

® Kapital Bank participates in Nakhchivan’s first “Career Fair”

Azerbaijani female chess player wins bronze at FIDE World Junior Chess Championships U20

® Silk Way West Airlines successfully transported yaks from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan

Acropolis in Athens closed as Greece bakes in heatwave: What travellers need to know

More than 5,000 migrants killed on perilous journey from North Africa to Spanish coast in January-May 2024

Ombudsperson comments on French government’s biased position against Azerbaijani media representative

At least 40 Indians die in a fire at a building housing foreign workers in Kuwait

England's hospital waiting lists rise to 7.57m

AZANS, Aireon and Metron Aviation collaborate for advanced digital platforms in civil aviation

Paulo Fonseca named AC Milan coach and tasked with challenging Serie A champ Inter

Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation visits National Library of Belarus

Maire representatives visit Baku Higher Oil School

AI must never stand for 'advancing inequality,' says UN chief

Central Bank: $75m worth of demand fully covered at FX auction

Raising of Azerbaijani flag at Khojaly airport in spotlight of Ukrainian media outlets

President Ilham Aliyev attended inauguration of Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex VIDEO

Fernando Santos signs 3+1 deal with Azerbaijan national team VIDEO

Norway hosts event on preparations for COP29

UK delegation informed about consequences of landmine problem in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories

European countries brace for forest fires in 2024

Azerbaijan Army positions in direction of Nakhchivan subjected to fire VIDEO