SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket to support NROL-113 mission

UPDATE (Thursday, 8:27 p.m.) – According to SpaceX, the launch on Thursday evening was successful.

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ORIGINAL POST (Wednesday, 8:33 p.m.) – SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday evening.

The start window will open at 20:20.

If all goes according to plan, the rocket will launch a third group of satellites into low Earth orbit as part of the company's NROL-113 mission.

The aim of the mission is to strengthen the reconnaissance and imaging capabilities of the National Reconnaissance Office.

NROL-113 is operated by SpaceX in collaboration with Northrop Grumman.

If the mission is cancelled on Thursday, an alternative launch option has been identified for Friday starting at 19:58.

A live stream of the mission is scheduled to begin about five minutes before launch.

It can be viewed on the SpaceX website or on the company's X account.