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Space

NRO Launches Mission on Reused SpaceX Booster for the First Time

By Rachel Jewett

Tuesday, April 19th, 2022

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NRO Launches Mission on Reused SpaceX Booster for the First Time

SpaceX launches NROL85 mission. Photo: NRO

SpaceX launched a classified satellite early Sunday morning for the National Reconnaissance Office, using a flight-proven booster, marking the first time an NRO mission has flown on a reused rocket. The mission, NROL-85, was the NRO’s second launch this year. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 17 at 6:13 a.m. PT. The booster returned to the landing zone after delivering the payload to orbit. “All launches are exciting, but this one, with our…

Congress

Kaine On Iranian Girls School Strike: “You Can Be Sure We’re Gonna Get The Answer To That One”

Sen. Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) seapower panel, pledged on Tuesday that the Senate will get to the bottom of what happened […]

Congress

‘Right To Repair’ Reform In SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sets “Government-Purpose Rights’ As Default

The “Right to Repair” provision secured in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy bill would establish “government-purpose rights” as a default, requiring defense contractors […]

Advanced / Transformational Technology

Pentagon May Make ‘Tradeoffs’ For Low-Cost Autonomous Tech Without Reconciliation Funds, CTO Says

The Pentagon’s chief technology officer has said the department may need to make “tradeoffs” on certain capability priorities if Congress doesn’t pass a reconciliation with $350 billion in requested defense […]

Congress

SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sticks With Army’s Plan For Legacy Aviation Procurement Cuts

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy sticks to the Army’s proposed plan to cut procurement of its legacy aviation fleet, and does not authorize […]