Science & Technology
Another U.S. spy satellite has taken flight on a mystery mission
A Rocket Lab Electron booster launched the classified NROL-199 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from New Zealand on Thursday, two days later than originally planned.
Rocket Lab shut down its webcast shortly after the Electron reached orbit at the request of the NRO.
The NRO builds and operates the United States’ fleet of spy satellites. The agency generally keeps details about those satellites’ activities under wraps, and NROL-199 is no exception; we have only a vague idea of what the spacecraft will be doing in Earth orbit, space.com reported.
“The payload will support the NRO to provide critical information to government agencies and decision makers monitoring international issues,” Rocket Lab wrote in a description of Thursday’s mission, which it called “Antipodean Adventure.”
NROL-199 is a joint effort of the NRO and the Australian Department of Defense.