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National Reconnaissance Office Release #02-22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 2, 2022

Office of Public Affairs

Contact: (703) 808-1198

NRO celebrates first launch of 2022 and first Falcon 9 

National Security Space Launch with NROL-87

CHANTILLY, Va. — The National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched the NROL-87 

mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4E located at 

Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:27 p.m. PST. NROL-87 is the 60th launch 

since NRO began publicly disclosing launches in December 1996.

The Falcon 9 delivered a national security payload to orbit before the reusable rocket booster 

safely landed at Landing Zone 4. NROL-87 is designed, built, and operated by the NRO to 

support its overhead reconnaissance mission. NROL-87 is the NRO’s first launch this year and 

follows eight launches and 16 payloads placed on orbit in the past 24 months.

“The success of NROL-87 was the result of multiple partnerships and the innovation of our 

people,” said NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese. “Technology is ever changing. The relationships 

we build enable us to recognize solutions faster to ensure we field the latest capabilities. Our 

people continue to prove they are our greatest asset, solving the most complex problems in new 

and innovative ways.” 

NROL-87 is the NRO’s third launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket but the first Falcon 9 

procured from the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract. NSSL, a government 

launch acquisition program aimed at ensuring continued access to space for national security 

missions, is overseen and operated through U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command 

headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. Along with SSC, additional mission 

partners supporting today’s launch include the USSF’s Space Launch Delta 30. 

“This launch demonstrates our ability to build the best-in-class systems to protect the United 

States and our allies from threats in and from space,” said Col. Chad Davis, director, NRO’s 

Office of Space Launch. “Our partners at SpaceX and U.S. Space Force were vital to the success 

of this mission today, and their outstanding capabilities make these highly technical missions 

look routine.”

Since 1961, the NRO has pushed the envelope of U.S. space-based intelligence collection with 

boldness and ingenuity. Today, NRO’s innovative legacy continues to thrive as it develops, 

acquires, launches, and operates the world’s most capable spy satellites. NROL-87 will 

strengthen NRO’s ability to provide a wide-range of timely intelligence information to national 

decision-makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts to protect the Nation’s vital interests and 

support humanitarian efforts worldwide. 
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Additional information on upcoming launches will be made available at 

https://www.nro.gov/launch/. 

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For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched, and operated the satellites that are 

the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture 

of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and 

reconnaissance content on the planet. Learn more at NRO.gov.