Northrop Grumman launches reconnaissance satellite
Northrop Grumman yesterday successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office surveillance satellite, its Minotaur-4 rocket lifting off from Vandenberg in California.
This was the company’s first launch since 2023. Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket has been out of commission since the company used up its Ukrainian-built first stages, waiting for Firefly to complete its replacement. The repurposed Minotaur-4 missile does not have the capability to replace it.
The leader board for the 2025 launch race remains unchanged:
43 SpaceX
19 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 43 to 33.
Northrop Grumman yesterday successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office surveillance satellite, its Minotaur-4 rocket lifting off from Vandenberg in California.
This was the company’s first launch since 2023. Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket has been out of commission since the company used up its Ukrainian-built first stages, waiting for Firefly to complete its replacement. The repurposed Minotaur-4 missile does not have the capability to replace it.
The leader board for the 2025 launch race remains unchanged:
43 SpaceX
19 China
5 Rocket Lab
5 Russia
SpaceX still leads the rest of the world in successful launches, 43 to 33.