SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

NROL‑69

Name: Falcon 9 Block 5 | NROL-69
Start: 2025-03-24T17:48:00Z
Location: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Mon, Mar 24 · 5:48 PM UTC2025-03-24 17:48 UTCSpace Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:21.

Landed

B1092 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 1, on its 2nd flight.

Worldwide

61st

orbital launch attempt in 2025

SpaceX

36th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 40

17th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

5 d 21 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX NROL-69

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 5:48 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:005:10 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:005:13 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:005:13 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:005:32 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:005:41 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:005:47 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:005:47 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:455:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:035:47 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:005:10 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:005:13 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:005:13 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:005:32 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:005:41 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:005:47 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:005:47 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:455:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:035:47 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:005:48 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:075:49 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:145:50 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:175:50 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:255:50 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:075:51 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return6

T+2:315:50 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:255:51 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:375:54 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:585:54 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:505:55 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:225:56 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload3

T+8:215:56 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+46:266:34 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+46:386:34 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine

Mission

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Mar 24 · 7:27 PM
Launch successful.
hitura-nobad
Mar 24 · 5:49 PM
Liftoff!
hitura-nobad
Mar 24 · 5:33 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 23 · 3:26 PM
Updated launch weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 22 · 1:29 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Mar 19 · 1:01 PM
Added launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 18 · 8:47 PM
Targeting the afternoon EDT
Nosu
Mar 15 · 9:10 AM
NET March 24.
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

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SpaceXLaunch SuccessfulGovernment/Top Secret

NROL‑69

Falcon 9 Block 5

Launched Mon, Mar 24 · 5:48 PM UTC2025-03-24 17:48 UTCSpace Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Reached orbit
Booster landed

Follow SpaceX in the app Watch the replay

Success

Reached Low Earth Orbit

The second stage shut down at T+8:21.

Landed

B1092 Landed

The first stage landed at Landing Zone 1, on its 2nd flight.

Worldwide

61st

orbital launch attempt in 2025

SpaceX

36th

launch this year

Space Launch Complex 40

17th

launch from this pad this year

Pad turnaround

5 d 21 h

since the pad's previous launch

Replay

Replay: SpaceX NROL-69

The Flight Plan

Planned times, from liftoff at 5:48 PM UTC. The result is at the top of the page.

Countdown9

T−38:005:10 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:005:13 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:005:13 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:005:32 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:005:41 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:005:47 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:005:47 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:455:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:035:47 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Show the countdown (9 steps)

T−38:005:10 PMLaunch director verifies go for propellant load
T−35:005:13 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage
T−35:005:13 PMStart of propelland loading
T−16:005:32 PMStart of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage
T−7:005:41 PMStart of engine chilling
T−1:005:47 PMFuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels
T−1:005:47 PMThe onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks
T−0:455:47 PMLaunch director verifies go for launch
T−0:035:47 PMStart of the engine ignition sequence

Ascent6

T+0:005:48 PMFirst upwards movement of the rocket
T+1:075:49 PMMaximum dynamic pressure
T+2:145:50 PMCut-off of the main engine
T+2:175:50 PMSeparation of the second stage from the first
T+2:255:50 PMFirst start of the second engine
T+3:075:51 PMSeparation of the payload fairing

Booster Return6

T+2:315:50 PMStart of the booster boostback burn
T+3:255:51 PMEnd of the booster boostback burn
T+6:375:54 PMStart of the atmospheric entry burn
T+6:585:54 PMEnd of the atmospheric entry burn
T+7:505:55 PMStart of the first stage landing burn
T+8:225:56 PMLanding of the first stage

Second Stage and Payload3

T+8:215:56 PMFirst cut-off of the second engine
T+46:266:34 PMSecond start of the second engine
T+46:386:34 PMSecond cut-off of the second engine

Mission

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office

Launch Provider

SpaceX

Commercial · United States of America · Founded 2002 · CEO Elon Musk

Launches

742

Successful

727

98%

Landings

687

of 715

Upcoming

136

scheduled

FliesFalcon Starship Dragon

All SpaceX launches Website Wikipedia

Updates

Mar 24 · 7:27 PM
Launch successful.
hitura-nobad
Mar 24 · 5:49 PM
Liftoff!
hitura-nobad
Mar 24 · 5:33 PM
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
Launch Library 2
Mar 23 · 3:26 PM
Updated launch weather.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 22 · 1:29 AM
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin

Show earlier updates

Mar 19 · 1:01 PM
Added launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin
Mar 18 · 8:47 PM
Targeting the afternoon EDT
Nosu
Mar 15 · 9:10 AM
NET March 24.
Cosmic_Penguin

Falcon 9 Block 5

Vehicle history

Height

70m

Diameter

3.6m

To low Earth orbit

22,800kg

Liftoff thrust

7,607kN

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Cape Canaveral SFS schedule

Nov13Fri

Amazon Leo (LV-01)United Launch Alliance · Vulcan VC6L · Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USALow Earth OrbitTo be determinedTime TBD Nov—NET

Cygnus CRS-2 NG-25SpaceX · Falcon 9 Block 5 · Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USALow Earth OrbitTo be determinedNET November

Space Launch Now for iOS and Android

Notifications before every launch you follow, live countdowns on your home screen and watch, and webcasts as they start.

See what's in the app

Scan to open on your phone

NROL‑69

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload3

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

NROL‑69

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload3

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

NROL‑69

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload3

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Never Miss a Launch.

NROL‑69

Replay

More Videos

The Flight Plan

Countdown9

Ascent6

Booster Return6

Second Stage and Payload3

Mission

SpaceX

Updates

Falcon 9 Block 5

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS

Never Miss a Launch.

Next From Cape Canaveral SFS