SpaceX Set to Launch NRO Satellites on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg
Alright, space enthusiasts, get ready for another exciting launch! SpaceX is all set to send a batch of reconnaissance satellites into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). This highly anticipated mission, dubbed NROL-57, is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch window opens on March 20 at 11:49 p.m. PDT, which translates to 2:49 a.m. EDT on March 21.
What makes this launch so significant? Well, for starters, this marks SpaceX’s 450th Falcon 9 launch—a massive milestone in the company’s impressive track record. But that’s not all. The mission also boasts a record-breaking turnaround time for the Falcon 9 booster, identified as B1088. This will be its fourth mission, having previously supported NROL-126, a mix of Starlink and Starshield satellites, as well as the Transporter-12 rideshare mission and NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions. If all goes as planned, this booster will set a new record for the fastest reuse time, surpassing the current mark of 13.5 days.
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Now, let’s talk about the payload. While exact details remain classified, reports suggest these satellites are part of the Starshield program—a government-specific variant of Starlink, developed by SpaceX in partnership with Northrop Grumman. The NRO is aiming to build a massive constellation of hundreds of small satellites in low Earth orbit, designed to enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities and provide rapid data delivery to U.S. national security agencies and allied partners.
As always, SpaceX will attempt to recover the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster post-launch. If successful, this will mark the 26th booster landing at Landing Zone 4 and an incredible 421st booster recovery for the company overall.
For those eager to watch this mission live, Spaceflight Now will begin coverage about 30 minutes prior to liftoff. If you’re a fan of space exploration, you won’t want to miss this one. Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s get ready to witness another groundbreaking mission from SpaceX!
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