SpaceX deploys new NRO satellites, which gives the U.S. space fleet more than 200 spacecraft and increases U.S. intelligence capabilities.

SpaceX was able to successfully launch a batch of small spy satellites on September 22 for the US government's National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which blew past 200 satellites in terms of operational US government satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying the NROL-48 mission to low earth orbit.

This will be the eleventh launch in the pop-up architecture program of the NRO and the fifth launch in 2025. The constellation is intended to provide capabilities of enhanced intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and secure data relay through a network of small and distributed satellites.

While specific details of the payloads have to be kept secret, it is thought that the satellites are built around a government version of the conceptual framework of SpaceX's Starlink design. The spacecraft are built in association with Northrop Grumman. In it, commercial Starshield bus structures are integrated with military-grade national security payload protection technologies.

The agency said "The presence of hundreds of NRO satellites in space was important to our nation and its partners." The constellation aims to enhance observation persistence, reduce revisit times, and speed up the data processing and transmission.

NRO Director Christopher Scolese confirmed the fleet contains both small satellites and the larger traditional spacecraft, with more launches to be held on a regular basis through 2029. The program points to the increasing importance of small satellite networks in today's operations in space and in national security services.