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A stack of SpaceX Starlink satellites, which included the first six featuring Direct to Cell capabilities. The batch launched on the Starlink 7-9 mission, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 2, 2024. Image: SpaceX

SpaceX kicked off the weekend with the launch of another batch of its Starlink satellites. The mission, dubbed Starlink 8-8, added 20 more satellites to the low Earth orbit constellation, including 13 that have Direct to Cell capabilities.

Liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base happened 5:58 a.m. PDT (8:58 a.m. EDT, 1258 UTC). The launch came less than 12 hours after SpaceX launched 22 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and roughly 48 hours after launching the fourth flight of its Starship rocket from southern Texas.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1061 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for a 21st time, tying B1062 as the companys flight leaders. B1061 previously launched two quartets of astronauts (Crew-1 and Crew-2), two multi-satellite rideshare missions (Transporter-4 and Transporter-5) as well as nine previous Starlink missions.

A little more than minutes after liftoff, B1061 landed on SpaceXs droneship, Of Course I Still Love You. It marked the 92nd landing on OCISLY and the 318th booster landing to date.

On June 1, Michael Nicolls, SpaceXs vice president of Starlink Engineering, noted that the 11 Starlink launches in May included 26 Direct to Cell Starlink satellites which presented over 8 percent of the sats needed for initial direct-to-cell service.

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SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now

The National Reconnaissance Office launched an undisclosed number of next-generation spy satellites into orbit today.

The mission, called NROL-146, was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California early Wednesday morning, and comprise the beginning of a future constellation of intelligence satellites.

This mission is the first launch of the NROs proliferated systems featuring responsive collection and rapid data delivery. NROL-146 represents the first launch of an operational system following demonstrations in recent years to verify cost and performance, the NRO said.

The agency hasnt disclosed how many satellites are in the first launch or how many they want in the constellation in total.

While details remain scarce, Reuters previously reported that SpaceX and Northrop Grumman are working together to build the classified satellite network for the NRO.

The spy agency, whose operations are highly classified, is expanding its space architecture so it can collect more data for the Pentagon and intelligence community. The NRO has previously said it plans to quadruple the number of satellites it has in orbit.

Over the next decade, we will continue to increase the number of satellites operating across

multiple orbitscomplementing the NROs cutting-edge, highly-capable satellites that are the

traditional hallmark of the NROby adding responsive, proliferated systems, Troy Meink, principal deputy director of the NRO, said in a statement. Our proliferated systems will increase timeliness of access, diversify communications pathways, and enhance our resilience.

The NRO is planning about half a dozen launches for the new architecture this year, with additional launches expected through 2028, according to the agency.

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SpaceX launches first batch of new spy satellites for NRO - Defense One

The SpaceX launches just keep on coming.

A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch 23 more of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida today (May 23), during a 3.5-hour window that opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT). It will be the third mission in the past two days for the company.

SpaceX will webcast the launch live via X, starting about five minutes before the window opens.

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

The Falcon 9's first stage will come back to Earth about 8 minutes after launch, if all goes according to plan. It will make a powered, vertical touchdown on the droneship "Just Read the Instructions," which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

It will be the 13th launch and landing for this particular first stage, according to a SpaceX mission description.Half of its 12 flights to date have been Starlink missions.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, will carry the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) tonight, deploying them about 65 minutes after liftoff.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Tonight's action comes on the heels of a SpaceX doubleheader. On Wednesday (May 22), the company launched the NROL-146 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from California and a batch of Starlink satellites from Florida's Space Coast.

SpaceX has now launched 52 orbital missions this year, 36 of which have been dedicated to building out the Starlink megaconstellation.

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SpaceX to launch 3rd mission in 2 days this evening - Space.com

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, May 23 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 6:45 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 10:13 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Friday, May 24 starting at 6:26 p.m. ET.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.

This is the 13th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceXs second launch in under 24 on two coasts

UPDATE SpaceX launches NROL146 on next gen spy mission sending the first reconnaissance satellite constellation

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SpaceX's hat trick with two launches down yesterday and one today SatNews - SatNews

SpaceX launced a pioneering set of spy satellites for the U.S. government early on Wednesday morning (May 22).

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.

Related: SpaceX launches US spy satellite, lands rocket in flawless Easter flight

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."

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

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.

Editor's note: This story was updated on May 22 with news of successful launch and rocket landing.

A SpaceX mission descriptiondidn'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.

Read more here:

SpaceX launches next-gen US spy satellites and sticks the landing (video) - Space.com