SpaceX Launches US spy satellite for 2nd time

SpaceX has successfully launched one of its Falcon 9 carrier rockets with a US intelligence satellite on board on Sunday, broadcasting the launch live.

The launch took place at the ‘Vandenberg Space Force Base’ in California at 9:13 a.m. local time (13:13 GMT). The rocket is tapping into orbit the NROL-85 mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The mission’s details have not been made public.

The rocket’s first stage has already landed in the locality of the launch site. This is its second launch as it was previously used for putting another intelligence satellite into orbit.

The NRO is a US government agency that develops, builds, launches, and operates US spy satellites that provide intelligence data to the 18 agencies comprising the US intelligence community and the Defense Department.