The NRO operates a fleet of spy satellites.
On Wednesday (July 13) at 2:30 a.m., a Rocket Lab Electron booster lifted off from the company's New Zealand location. In New Zealand, the time is 6:30 p.m.
Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, confirmed that the kick stage of the Electron had deployed NROL-161 into Earth's atmosphere.
There are photos of the rocket lab and its electron booster.
The NRO's ability to provide a wide range of timely intelligence information to national decision makers and intelligence analysts will be strengthened by NROL-161.
The Australian Department of Defence and the NRO are working together on a project. If everything goes according to plan, NROL-199 will launch from New Zealand on July 23.
The NRO's ability to launch multiple rockets from overseas locations back to back is demonstrated by the 199 and NROL-161 missions.
The company has launched a number of national security missions for the U.S. government. An electron launched the NRO's classified NROL-151 satellite. In June of that year, the spy agency received three more secret rockets from Rocket Lab.
"Wise One Looks Ahead" was the 28th launch of the Electron rocket. The small kick stage is used to deliver customer payloads to their precise destination.
The kick stage of the electron can be used to get even farther away. The CAPSTONE cubesat was launched onto the moon on June 28. After being deployed from the Photon on July 4th, CAPSTONE is now making its way to the moon and will arrive on November 13th.
"Wise One Looks Ahead" will be followed by several other launches. The launch of Arianespace's new rocket, the Vega C, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The International Space Station is expected to get a cargo capsule on Thursday night.
The first stage of the Electron is currently being worked on by Rocket Lab to be re-usable. "Wise One Looks Ahead" didn't have a booster recovery.
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