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Northrop Grumman Space SystemsMinotaur IVSpace Launch Complex 8, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

NROL-174

Launched

April 16, 2025 · 19:33 UTC

Launch Successful
NROL-174 Patch

Image: USAF

Summary

NROL-174 launched on a Northrop Grumman Space Systems Minotaur IV from Space Launch Complex 8, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on April 16, 2025 at 19:33 UTC. The launch window ran from 19:00 to 21:26 UTC. It was Northrop Grumman Space Systems's 15th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 6,928th orbital launch attempt. It was the 4th Minotaur IV flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Unknown (N/A). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.

Watch
No webcast on record.
Vehicle
Minotaur IV · Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Unknown (N/A)for NRO
Milestone
4th Minotaur IV flight · 1st this yearNorthrop Grumman Space Systems's 15th launch1st this yearhumanity's 6,928th orbital launch attempt79th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 3 still in orbit

  • USA 521 · NORAD 63596 · in orbit
  • USA 522 · NORAD 63597 · in orbit

Minotaur IV (8) Stage 4 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Official page: > Launches > launch-nrol-174

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 8

Space Launch Complex 8, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

9th launch from Space Launch Complex 8, 1st this year · 801st from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Apr 16, 12:33 PM PDT, in daylight

10 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

about 14 years after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USAOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success

SwGustav · Apr 16, 2025 · source

Show 5 earlier updates

  • Apparent liftoff

    SwGustav · 4/16/2025 · source

  • Tweaked T-0.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 4/15/2025 · source

  • GO for launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 4/10/2025 · source

  • NET April 16.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 4/9/2025 · source

  • Added launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 1/12/2024 · source

Questions

When did NROL-174 launch?

NROL-174 launched on April 16, 2025 at 19:33 UTC. The launch window ran from 19:00 to 21:26 UTC.

Where can I watch NROL-174?

No webcast is on record for this launch.

What rocket launched NROL-174?

Minotaur IV, flown by Northrop Grumman Space Systems. Minotaur IV spec sheet

Where did NROL-174 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 8, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Liftoff was Apr 16, 12:33 PM PDT local time at the pad.

What orbit was NROL-174 going to?

Unknown (N/A), a government/top secret mission.

How many satellites did NROL-174 launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).