PORT CANAVERAL, FL – A recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the clandestine NROL-69 spysat mission for US National Security on Monday, March 24 at 1:48 p.m. ET, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Eight minutes later the 1st stage booster landed back safely at the Cape at LZ-1- just as a pleasure boat was coincidentally passing by in my view from the boat ramp. Accompanied by several extremely loud and thrilling sonic booms
See lead photo.
Nothing is known about the totally classified payload and it launched to an unknown location. No details were released
However – the NRO did confirm the success of the launch and mission via tweet
https://x.com/NatReconOfc/status/1904250648520003867
“MISSION SUCCESS: NRO & @USSF_SSC launched NROL-69 today at 1:48 p.m. EDT on a@S paceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.”
See press release see below
https://x.com/NatReconOfc/status/1904616845983826177
“Yesterday, NROL-69 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Together, NRO and @USSF_SSC are advancing national security by ensuring the U.S. maintains resilient & cost-effective space capabilities to meet evolving threats & deliver vital intelligence.”
“This mission is NRO’s 5th launch of 2025 and 1st this year in partnership with @USSF_SSC.”
We watched the launch from the Boat Ramp area in Port Canaveral with a big crowd of spectators and beside the Carnival Cruise Ship Glory – where we had just cruised on a week earlier – since Jetty Park was full with No Parking as often happened during daylight launches.
This marked the first time we’ve watched a launch from the Boat Ramp – after seeing more than 300 launches. It was a delightful experience with the crowd and we did outreach explaining the mission to folks and where to look for the launch and landing. And to expect multiple sonic booms!
Launch of SpaceX NRO NROL-69 spysat took place on very hazy afternoon with heavily overcast cloudy skies.
Nonetheless exciting.
Enjoy our launch and prelaunch photos for Space UpClose from the team of Ken Kremer and Jean Wright
This marked the second launch and landing flight for the first stage booster B1092.2 supporting this mission, which previously launched the Starlink 12-13 mission on Feb. 27, 2025.
The F9 landing marked the 50th touchdown at LZ-1 and overall the 422nd booster landing to date.
NRO USSF press release
National Reconnaissance Office FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office of Public Affairs 703-808-1198, media@nro.mil Release #5-25 March 24, 2025 NRO and U.S. Space Force partner to launch NROL-69 mission Fifth NRO launch of 2025 continues dynamic mission schedule CHANTILLY, Va. — The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Launch Delta 45, and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-69 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 24, 2025, at 1:48 p.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 reusable rocket booster returned safely to Landing Zone 1 after delivering the national security payload to orbit. Today’s successful mission highlights the close working relationship between NRO and SSC to ensure reliable and cost-effective access to space for national security missions.
“NRO and SSC’s partnership through the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program is an important step in safeguarding our nation’s interests in space,” said Col. Eric Zarybnisky, director, NRO’s Office of Space Launch. “Together, we are advancing national security by ensuring the U.S. maintains resilient and cost-effective space capabilities to meet evolving threats and deliver vital intelligence.” NROL-69 is the first NRO mission launched with SpaceX from the NSSL Phase 2 contract awarded in August 2020. NSSL, a government launch acquisition partnership program between SSC and the NRO aimed at ensuring continued assured access to space for national security missions, is overseen and operated by SSC, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. Previously, NRO and SSC launched two NSSL Phase 1A missions with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base with NROL-87 and NROL-85 in 2022.
“The combined team of our skilled personnel plus SpaceX in partnership with the NRO thoroughly examined the flight hardware and integration elements to minimize mission risks,” said Col. Jim Horne, Senior Materiel Leader of Launch Execution. “And our SSC team who operate the range systems and infrastructure was fantastic. It was our first NSSL mission this calendar year, and it hit the mark, right in the middle.” Over the past two years, NRO has launched more than 150 satellites, creating the largest and most capable government constellation on orbit in our nation’s history.
Continuing with this momentum, 2025 is set to be another dynamic year, with approximately a dozen NRO launches scheduled. NROL-69 is NRO’s 5th launch of 2025, following NROL-153, NROL-57, and two rideshare missions aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 and Transporter-13. For more than 60 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world’s leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO’s next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.
Additional information on upcoming launches will be made available at NRO.gov/launch. ### Ever since its inception at the dawn of the space age more than 60 years ago, the NRO has brought the farthest reaches of the planet into our grasp — to see it, hear it, and sense it. Today, the NRO is building on that legacy of innovation, harnessing the limitless potential of space to make our nation even safer and stronger. Learn more at NRO.gov.
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