For SpaceX, 2020 Was A Good Year

On Saturday, December 19 at 9:00 a.m. EST, Falcon 9 launched the NROL-108 mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, completing SpaceX’s 26th and final mission of 2020 -- a record for the company.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of SpaceX’s 19th and 20th cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station, a Starlink mission, and the SAOCOM 1B mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida – the 70th landing for SpaceX.

NROL-108 is the NRO’s sixth launch of 2020 and carried a national security payload designed, built and operated by the agency. Using NRO data, the National Security Agency, National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, and other NRO mission partners produce intelligence products for the President, Congress, national policymakers, warfighters, and civil users.

The NRO uses a variety of satellites to meet these mission needs—from small sats to more traditional, larger satellites.

FMI: www.spacex.com