SpaceX Launches Secret US Spy Satellites Into Orbit From California Coast

SpaceX launched a classified batch of U.S. spy satellites into orbit on the evening of May 11 during a mission carried out for the National Reconnaissance Office.

The NROL-172 mission lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:13 p.m. EDT, along California’s fog-covered central coast.

The launch marked the 13th mission connected to the NRO’s expanding “proliferated architecture” reconnaissance network, a growing satellite system designed to increase surveillance and operational resilience.

According to officials, the modernization effort aims to deliver faster capabilities and improve operations in what was described as a heightened threat environment.

The agency stated that a larger number of satellites operating in multiple orbits would provide significantly more signals and imagery than current systems.

The satellites involved in the network were built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman.

Officials did not disclose how many satellites were launched, their specific functions, or their orbital positions.

Following liftoff, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster returned to Earth approximately 8.5 minutes later, landing on the SpaceX drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX confirmed it was the second flight and landing for that booster.

The company’s livestream ended shortly after the landing at the request of the National Reconnaissance Office.

The mission was the 55th Falcon 9 launch of 2026. Of those launches, 44 were dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.