Overview

• The NROL-69 mission launched from Canaveral Space Force Station on March 24, 2025, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
• The mission is part of a $160 million contract awarded to SpaceX in 2021 under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
• The Falcon 9 rocket's first-stage booster, previously used in a Starlink mission, successfully landed at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1, potentially causing sonic booms in Central Florida.
• The NRO has launched over 150 satellites in the past two years, creating the largest government satellite constellation in U.S. history to support intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
• This marks the 24th launch from the Space Coast in 2025, with SpaceX conducting all but one, underscoring its dominance in U.S. launch operations.