9.12.2025
Watch SpaceX launch mystery mission for the US military today
Liftoff of the classified NROL-77 mission is scheduled for 2:16 p.m. ET today (Dec. 9).
SpaceX will launch a secret payload for the U.S. military today (Dec. 9), and you can watch the action live.
A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today at 2:16 p.m. EDT (1916 GMT) on a flight for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
SpaceX will stream coverage of the mission, called NROL-77, on its website and X account, and Space.com will carry the company's feed above and on our homepage. Coverage will begin about 10 minutes before launch.
The NRO, which is part of the Department of Defense, operates the United States' fleet of spy satellites.
Those spacecraft and their missions tend to be classified, and NROL-77 is no exception. The NRO's press kit, which you can find here, says the mission "carries a national security payload designed, built and operated by NRO."
There are no details, though the kit does reveal that the mission patch features a flying squirrel, along with the words "Another One Gone — Today, Tomorrow and Beyond'."
"The flying squirrel is a symbol of hard work and endurance — always active gathering foundational knowledge from the space domain for the nation and its allies," NRO officials wrote in the press kit. "Every mission counts, every decision matters, and every advancement propels us further. 'Another One Gone — Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond' embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence."
NROL-77 will be the third mission SpaceX launches this year for the NRO and U.S. Space Systems Command, according to the company. However, it will be the seventh Falcon 9 flight of 2025 that carries the "NROL-" prefix. The others — NROL-153, NROL-57, NROL-69, NROL-192, NROL-145 and NROL-48 — launched between January and September.
If all goes to plan today, the Falcon 9's first stage will make a landing back at Cape Canaveral about 8.5 minutes after launch. It will be the fourth mission for this particular booster, which is designated 1096.
We don't know when and where the Falcon 9's upper stage will deploy NROL-77's payload(s). SpaceX's mission description doesn't provide that information, and, if history is any guide, the company will likely cut its webcast off after booster landing.
Quelle: SC
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NROL-77 MISSION
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, December 9 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-77 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 2:16 p.m. ET, with a backup opportunity available on Wednesday, December 10 at 2:02 p.m. ET if needed.
A live webcast of the NROL-77 mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app.
This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched KF-01, IMAP, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
NROL-77 will be the third mission Falcon 9 will launch in 2025 on behalf of the Space Systems Command and National Reconnaissance Office, continuing to deliver assured access to space.
Quelle: SpaceX