Padside
Menu

SpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

NROL-77

Launched

December 9, 2025 · 19:16 UTC

Launch SuccessfulWeather 98% go
NROL-77

Image: SpaceX

Summary

NROL-77 launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA on December 9, 2025 at 19:16 UTC. It was SpaceX's 613th launch, 164th this year and humanity's 7,147th orbital launch attempt. It was the 520th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight and the 159th this year. Booster B1096 flew for the 4th time and landed at Landing Zone 2. The payload was bound for Unknown (N/A). One object from this launch is catalogued.

Watch
Vehicle
Falcon 9 Block 5 · SpaceX
Booster
  • B1096 · flight 4 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 2 · landed17/17 landed here · 28 days after its previous flight, Starlink Group 6-87 · 15 km downrange
Mission
Government/Top Secret · Unknown (N/A)for NRO
Milestone
520th Falcon 9 Block 5 flight · 159th this yearSpaceX's 613th launch164th this yearhumanity's 7,147th orbital launch attempt298th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Simulate in Flight Club

Flight timeline

22 steps, T−38 min to T+8 min 28 s
  1. T−38MGO for Prop Load
  2. T−35MProp Load
  3. T−35MStage 1 LOX Load
  4. T−16MStage 2 LOX Load
  5. T−7MEngine Chill
  6. T−1MTank Press
  7. T−1MStartup
  8. T−45SGO for Launch
  9. T−3SIgnition
  10. T−0Liftoff
  11. T+1M12SMax-Q
  12. T+2M12SMECO
  13. T+2M15SStage 2 Separation
  14. T+2M23SSES-1
  15. T+2M28SBooster Boostback Burn Startup
  16. T+3M4SFairing Separation
  17. T+3M22SBooster Boostback Burn Shutdown
  18. T+6M44SEntry Burn Startup
  19. T+7M4SEntry Burn Shutdown
  20. T+8M1SStage 1 Landing Burn
  21. T+8M17SSECO-1
  22. T+8M28SStage 1 Landing

Catalogued objects

1 catalogued: 1 payload; 1 still in orbit

  • USA 570 · NORAD 66992 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.

Official page: SpaceXOfficial page: www.nro.gov

Pad

Map of Space Launch Complex 40

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

352nd launch from Space Launch Complex 40, 72nd this year · 1,073rd from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 9, 2:16 PM EST, in daylight

403 launches from this pad · 1,131 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

6 days 20 hours after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USAOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Dec 9, 2025 · source

Show 7 earlier updates

  • Liftoff!

    hitura-nobad · 12/9/2025 · source

  • Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started

    LL2 · 12/9/2025 · source

  • Updated launch weather forecast.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/9/2025 · source

  • Tweaked T-0.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/8/2025 · source

  • Weather is >95% favorable for launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/8/2025 · source

  • GO for launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 11/25/2025 · source

  • Adding launch

    Nosu · 10/31/2023 · source

Questions

When did NROL-77 launch?

NROL-77 launched on December 9, 2025 at 19:16 UTC.

Where can I watch NROL-77?

Coverage: SpaceX NROL-77; Watch Live: SpaceX launches and lands Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral on spy satellite mission; SpaceX Falcon 9 launches NROL-77. Watch the replay

What rocket launched NROL-77?

Falcon 9 Block 5, flown by SpaceX. Falcon 9 Block 5 spec sheet

Where did NROL-77 launch from?

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA. Liftoff was Dec 9, 2:16 PM EST local time at the pad.

Did the booster land?

Booster B1096 flew for the 4th time and landed at Landing Zone 2.

What orbit was NROL-77 going to?

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

How many satellites did NROL-77 launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).