SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Classified Intelligence Satellites From California Base

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has launched carrying satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office in a classified mission.

The launch took place at 01:50 local time as part of the NROL-179 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a livestream of the operation.

This marks the third SpaceX launch conducted for U.S. intelligence purposes in 2026. Earlier missions included NROL-172 in May and NROL-105 in January.

The National Reconnaissance Office, which manages the United States’ reconnaissance satellite program, operates under strict classification rules, and details of its payloads are not publicly disclosed.

The identity of the satellites has not been confirmed, although they are believed to potentially be Starshield satellites, according to speculation, with no official confirmation from either SpaceX or the NRO.