SpaceX F9 : NROL-145 : VSFB SLC-4E : 20 April 2025 (12:29 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the tenth Starshield launch, NROL-145.

Launch 20 April 2025, at 12:29 UTC (5:29 am PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1082-12. The first stage has successfully landed on Of Course I Still Love You.

Payload 22 Starshield satellites, to a 70 degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory.  Initial orbit nnn x nnn km.

Please use the Starshield Discussion Thread for all general discussion on Starshield.


L2 SpaceX: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts:

https://twitter.com/GewoonLukas_/status/1874952867427291271

Lukas C. H. @GewoonLukas_
The NRO has also updated their press release for the Proliferated Architecture, which includes this updated launch schedule. It shows that there are currently 5 launches scheduled for this year.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7737

NROL-57
Launch Time
NET 2025
...
Falcon 9 Block 5
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7738

NROL-48
Launch Time
NET 2025
...
Falcon 9 Block 5
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/7739

NROL-145
Launch Time
NET 2025
...
Falcon 9 Block 5
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

The next Group 9 or 11 launch, NET mid February, could be this one.  Or, it could be the 8th launch of Future Proliferated Architecture (NROL-192).

Preceding launch: Starlink 11-9 on February 9 UTC.

The next Proliferated Architecture launches should follow this order: NROL-57, NROL-192, NROL-48, NROL-145
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/news/Press%20Kits/10388_Press%20Kit%20book_Launch_NROL-126_12.23.24.pdf

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 8:
Launch NET April

Launch campaign timing at SLC-4E is coordinated with the ongoing Starlink launches.

[GewoonLukas_]

Launching "within days" of NROL-192:

NRO director calls for leveraging full potential of cutting-edge space capabilities
April 8, 2025

[...]

Over the past year, we’ve launched eight missions supporting our proliferated architecture, with a ninth and tenth coming within days of one another in April. Future launches in support of our proliferated architecture are expected at this rapid cadence through 2029. And yet another launch – also in April – will carry a separate national security mission.

[...]

I suspect the other launch "carrying a separate national security mission" will be NROL-174

[GewoonLukas_]

Turns out this is NROL-145, with launch scheduled for April 19th:

Yesterday, NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese mentioned upcoming launches…bet you didn’t guess that meant 3 in 1 week!

GO NROL-192, NROL-174, & NROL-145! Stay tuned for more updates. 🚀

Watch Dr. Scolese's full remarks here: https://nro.gov/news-media-featured-stories/news-media-archive/News-Article/Article/4148782/nro-director-calls-for-leveraging-full-potential-of-cutting-edge-space-capabili/

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1910032516070732143

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 11:
Launch 19 April 12:47 UTC = 5:47 am PDT
OCISLY confirmed.

Source?

SFN Launch Schedule, updated April 11, is a source for OCISLY.

[zubenelgenubi]

Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-human spaceflight missions, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon and Cygnus than these other payloads.

I note B1063, B1071, and B1088 were used for 8 of the nine previous NRO Future Proliferated Architecture launches. 📝

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1075.18  Feb 1
1071.24  Feb 11  NROL-192
1082.12  Feb 23
1081.14  Mar 15
1063.25  Mar 26
1088.6    Apr 4
1093.2    Apr 7

Edit April 19: It's B1082.12, skipping B1075.18.

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 11:
Launch 19 April 12:47 UTC = 5:47 am PDT
OCISLY confirmed.

Source?

SFN Launch Schedule, updated April 11, is a source for OCISLY.

This 2nd stage re-entry NOTAM confirms April 19 as the target date, but with a different launch time:

A0440/25 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2843S12112W120
A) NTTT
B) 2504191228 C) 2504251543
D) 19 1228-1706, 20 1214-1652, 21 1200-1638, 22 1146-1624, 23
 1132-1610, 24 1118-1556, 25 1105-1543
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY
SPACEX NROL-145 SECOND STAGE IN TAHITI FIR WITHIN
AN AREA BOUNDED BY FOLLOWING POINTS:
2759S 12244W - 2709S 12043W - 2842S 12000W - 3000S 12000W -
3000S 12153W - 2759S 12244W
THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS SCIZ FIR AS WELL.
AIRSPACE USERS ARE ADVISED OF THE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS NATURE
OF THE ACTIVITY AND ARE STRONGLY INVITED TO AVOID THE AREA
DURING THE ACTIVITY TIME SLOT.
OPERATORS ARE INVITED TO FILE THEIR FLIGHT PLAN WITH
A TRAJECTORY THAT ENSURES THAT THE AREA IS CIRCUMNAVIGATED.

THE FRENCH VERSION OF THIS NOTAM IS C0881/25
F) SFC G) UNL

[randomname]

NGA notices for this launch.

141709Z APR 25
HYDROPAC 955/25(22,83).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   191225Z TO 191706Z, 201211Z TO 201652Z,
   211157Z TO 211638Z, 221143Z TO 221624Z,
   231129Z TO 231610Z, 241115Z TO 241556Z,
   251102Z TO 251543Z APR IN AREA BOUND BY
   59-58.00S 099-05.00W, 59-09.00S 095-34.00W,
   27-09.00S 120-43.00W, 27-59.00S 122-44.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251643Z APR 25.

141850Z APR 25
NAVAREA XII 226/25(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
   A. 191041Z TO 191510Z, 201027Z TO 201456Z,
      211013Z TO 211442Z, 220959Z TO 221428Z,
      230945Z TO 231414Z, 240931Z TO 241400Z AND
      250918Z TO 251347Z APR IN AREA BOUND BY
      29-09.00N 117-50.00W, 29-36.00N 117-41.00W,
      29-45.00N 117-14.00W, 29-19.00N 117-01.00W,
      28-58.00N 117-23.00W.
   B. 191041Z TO 191506Z, 201027Z TO 201452Z,
      211013Z TO 211438Z, 220959Z TO 221424Z,
      230945Z TO 231410Z, 240931Z TO 241356Z AND
      250918Z TO 251343Z APR IN AREA BOUND BY
      29-36.00N 117-41.00W, 30-15.00N 117-55.00W,
      30-18.00N 117-46.00W, 29-44.00N 117-17.00W.
   C. 191041Z TO 191504Z, 201027Z TO 201450Z,
      211013Z TO 211436Z, 220959Z TO 221422Z,
      230945Z TO 231408Z, 240931Z TO 241354Z AND
      250918Z TO 251341Z APR IN AREA BOUND BY
      34-40.00N 120-22.00W, 34-00.00N 119-54.00W,
      33-13.00N 119-23.00W, 32-24.00N 118-59.00W,
      32-45.00N 119-17.00W, 33-28.00N 119-42.00W,
      34-35.00N 120-40.00W, 34-40.00N 120-38.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251447Z APR 25.

[zubenelgenubi]

NextSpaceflight; updated April 14:
Launch 19 April 10:41 UTC = 3:41 am PDT

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Air Space Closure Zones:

Primary Launch Day 19 APR 1041Z-1510Z Backup Launch Day (1) 20 APR 1027Z-1456Z Backup Launch Day (2) 21 APR 1013Z-1442Z Backup Launch Day (3) 22 APR 0959Z-1428Z Backup Launch Day (4) 23 APR 0945Z-1414Z Backup Launch Day (5) 24 APR 0931Z-1400Z Backup Launch Day (6) 25 APR 0918Z-1347Z

[Martin_G]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp:

NROL-145, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:    04/19/25   1041Z-1510Z
BACKUP:      04/20/25   1027Z-1456Z

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jsp:

NROL-145, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:    04/19/25   1041Z-1510Z
BACKUP:      04/20/25   1027Z-1456Z

And there's now a one day's slip:

NROL-145, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:    04/20/25   1027Z-1456Z
BACKUP:   04/21/25   1013Z-1442Z

[Galactic Penguin SST]

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=nrol-145

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, April 20 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-145 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 5:29 a.m. PT. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Monday, April 21 starting at 5:08 a.m. PT.

A live webcast of this 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 new X TV app.

This is the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20, and nine Starlink missions. (=B1082-12) Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit and link to X livestream.

https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1vAxRDzqEoZGl

[catdlr]

Here is a consolidated post of available video links for this launch:

SpaceX direct live broadcast on Twitter:  https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1vAxRDzqEoZGl

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=p3Ov9W_GYZA

There is no planned NSF Live coverage, alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/@SpaceflightNowVideo/streamsI

Replay supplied by The Space Devs (15 min after the broadcast end):  https://youtube.com/@thespacedevs/videos

Summary Video provided by SciNews (15 min after the broadcast ends):  https://youtube.com/@SciNewsRo/videos

Fleet Booster Number:  https://twitter.com/BoosterSpX

NROL launches post video dump location
https://www.dvidshub.net/search/2.0?filter[type]=video

[GewoonLukas_]

LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-145 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET April 20.

This mission is NRO's 1st proliferated mission in partnership with @USSF_SSC under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 contract. 🤝

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1913686362747703610

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1913933122854433027

[catdlr]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1913935154663338186

[catdlr]

Launch Highlights video: