SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches NROL-57 mission

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 11:49 p.m. PT, SpaceX launched a new Falcon 9 rocket carrying the National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-57 mission.

This liftoff was carried from Space Launch Complex-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SpaceX and NRO conducted this mission in partnership with U.S. Space Force Launch Delta 30. This was the eight launches of NRO’s proliferated architecture.

These satellites are highly classified including their orbit and there’s no detail about their mission as well as lifespan.

The rocket fired its nine Merlin engines to generate more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust. After completing the Max Q, the rocket separated both stages and boostback the first stage to propel it back to the Earth.

The first stage made its way to landing zone 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base and fired a final landing burn while deploying the landing legs.

Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base pic.twitter.com/mw0pUxax5T

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 21, 2025

With this mission, Falcon 9‘s first stage completed its fourth flight and previously supported NROL-126, Transporter-12, and SPHEREx.

Prior to liftoff, SpaceX published a notification for residents and visitors to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties to hear one or more sonic booms during the launch and landing.

The second stage fires its single Merlin vacuum engine to take the NROL-57 mission into space, but SpaceX is requested not to share any details on deployment.

(source)