On May 22, SpaceX, in collaboration with Northrop Grumman, successfully launched the top-secret NROL-146 mission for the U.S. government from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The mission deployed spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

The Falcon 9 rocket completed its fifth mission for the NRO and achieved its 310th first-stage booster recovery with a successful landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX is set to launch 23 satellites into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday night, with backup opportunities until 2:31 a.m. Thursday.

The NRO plans a total of six launches in 2024 to increase satellite coverage and resilience for critical information gathering.