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US Uses Converted Peacekeeper Ballistic Missile to Launch Classified Spy Satellites into Orbit.
On April 16, 2025, a Minotaur IV launcher was successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of the classified NROL-174 mission conducted by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This event marked the first Minotaur launch from this site since 2011, signaling the return of this unique space vector to the U.S. West Coast. The liftoff occurred at 3:33 p.m. Eastern Time (12:33 p.m. local time) from Launch Complex SLC-8, in partnership with the U.S. Space Force and defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket launches the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-174 mission from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on April 16, 2025 (Picture source: US DoD)
This launch was carried out under the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) of the Space Force, a program focused on small orbital launchers used primarily for higher-risk missions such as experimental flights, technology demonstrators, or research and development satellites. NROL-174 is the third mission executed under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 contract within the RSLP framework, following missions NROL-129 (July 2020) and NROL-111 (June 2021), both launched from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The Minotaur IV rocket used for this mission is derived from the conversion of a Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile, which once served around-the-clock within the U.S. nuclear deterrent posture. Now repurposed as a space launch vehicle, the missile has been adapted to place sensitive national security payloads into orbit. Standing 24 meters tall and featuring four stages, the launcher demonstrates the U.S. ability to extend the operational relevance of strategic military systems through technical conversion.
Laura Robinson, Deputy Director of the NRO’s Office of Space Launch and NROL-174 Mission Director, acknowledged the collective effort behind this outcome. “The Minotaur IV launcher used for the NROL-174 mission was once a Peacekeeper ICBM on 24/7 alert in support of our nation’s nuclear deterrent. Now modified for space launch, it has completed its final mission by placing a national security payload into orbit. This represents decades of commitment from those involved in its development, maintenance, operation, and transformation,” she stated. Lieutenant Colonel Steve Hendershot, Program Lead for the RSLP at Space Systems Command, also underlined the precision of the launch, describing it as a “textbook mission.”
As is customary, the NRO did not disclose details about the payloads aboard the launcher. The official press release merely states that multiple satellites designed, built, and operated by the agency were deployed, with no information on their specific mission, number, or orbital parameters. This lack of disclosure reflects the agency’s ongoing policy of strategic discretion while continuing the rapid expansion of its orbital assets. Over the past two years, the NRO has launched more than 150 satellites, forming the largest and most capable government-owned constellation ever placed in orbit by the United States. For 2025, around a dozen additional launches are planned.
Founded at the dawn of the space age more than 60 years ago, the National Reconnaissance Office remains a central actor in the collection of space-based intelligence for U.S. intelligence partners, the military, civilian agencies, and allied nations. The agency’s transition toward next-generation systems aims to deliver critical data with unprecedented speed and precision, amid growing global competition and instability.
The successful launch of April 16 once again demonstrates the NRO’s ability to integrate legacy military technology into strategic space programs. Working with the Space Force and Northrop Grumman, the agency has reinforced its command of the light orbital launch segment while consolidating its position as a global leader in space-based intelligence. This mission represents a new step in the broader U.S. strategy of expanding and securing space as an operational domain.
Beyond its technical aspects, NROL-174 illustrates a broader trend: the extensive development of space-based intelligence capabilities. In just two years, the NRO has deployed over 150 satellites, resulting in the largest operational government satellite network in orbit. According to the agency, these next-generation systems will make it possible to “deliver the right data to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.” This momentum is expected to continue through 2025 with a dozen more launches scheduled.
Spy satellites, or space-based reconnaissance systems, have become central to the information superiority doctrine of major powers. Their mission is to collect intelligence in various forms: optical or infrared imagery, electromagnetic signal interception, radar mapping, or signal detection. These data sources help identify sensitive infrastructure, monitor military movements, assess the effects of strikes, or anticipate adversary actions. Combined with other sensors, they provide a multi-domain view of modern battlefields.
This approach is now embedded in U.S. space strategy, where space is not only a support domain for terrestrial operations but also a strategic environment to be secured and controlled. NRO satellites go beyond surveillance: they provide essential data for precision strikes, missile detection, electronic targeting, and crisis management. In recent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, satellite imagery has played a decisive role in mapping Russian troop movements and supporting decision-making on the ground.
The expansion of orbital surveillance capabilities reflects a broader transformation in space militarization. While no declared offensive weapons are currently deployed in orbit, the underlying logic of strategic competition is well established, driven by the pursuit of total information dominance. The NRO’s capabilities, exemplified by missions like NROL-174, reveal a clear intent: to maintain control of the space domain to ensure national security, operational continuity, and a sustained technological edge over adversaries.
In this context, NROL-174 stands as a significant milestone. It represents the convergence of technological adaptation, institutional cooperation, and strategic foresight. By repurposing a missile from the Cold War era, the United States reaffirms its ability to adapt legacy systems to contemporary space warfare requirements, reinforcing its leadership in orbital intelligence. The NRO, often operating behind the scenes, remains a central pillar in the U.S. defense architecture.
More than just a launch, NROL-174 exemplifies the ongoing evolution of orbital operations. It highlights the interplay between innovation, responsiveness, and control in a domain increasingly defined by global rivalry. Through this mission, the United States underscores that space is no longer just a field of exploration or communication, but a critical theater of operations where strategic balance is now actively contested.