On: SpaceX launches first U.S. national security space...

[dylan604]

Do they mean first "successful" launch to orbit? I thought the launch where the payload failed to separate was the first launch, even though the launch was a success and the deployment failed. Why is this launch considered first?

[gpm → dylan604]

They've successfully launched successful national security missions before that successfully separated (e.g. NROL 76). The headline is just wrong.

I think it is the first satellite in this particular set of related launches.