SpaceX F9 : NROL-57 : VSFB SLC-4E : 20/21 March 2025 (06:49 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the eighth Starshield launch, NROL-57.

Launch 21 March 2025, at 06:49 UTC (20 March 11:49 pm PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1088-4.  The first stage successfully returned to the launch site at LZ-4.

Payload is 11 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 [PDF dated 23 Dec 2024]

Edited

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This has shown up on NOTAMs for launch NET February 17:

A0160/25 NOTAMN
Q) NTTT/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/2846S12204W170
A) NTTT
B) 2502171505 C) 2502231617
D) 17 1505-1740, 18 1451-1726, 19 1438-1713, 20 1424-1659,
21 1410-1645, 22 1356-1631, 23 1342-1617
E) TEMPORARY DANGEROUS AREA DUE TO ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY SPACEX
NROL-57 UPPER STAGE IN TAHITI FIR WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED
BY FOLLOWING POINTS:
3000S 12353W - 2759S 12444W - 2720S 12000W - 3000S 12000W -
3000S 12353W
THIS ACTIVITY IMPACTS SCIZ 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.
F) SFC G) UNL

[zubenelgenubi]

Which first stage will be used for this launch?  (semi-rhetorical question)

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.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1081.13  Dec 5    Transporter-13
1071.23  Jan 10  Starlink 11-10
1088.3    Jan 14  SPHEREx
1082.11  Jan 21  Starlink 15-1
1063.24  Jan 24
1075.18  Feb 1
1071.24  Feb 11
1082.12  Feb 23
1088.4    Mar 12

Speculation: B1091 may have been delivered to Vandenberg, as B1092 was delivered to Florida.

Edit March 20: It's B1088.4 = 8 day turnaround!

Edited

[StraumliBlight]

Shouldn't this launch have appeared on the FAA Advisory by now? (Currently showing Starlink 10-12, Starlink 15-1 and Starlink 12-14)

Vandenberg Facebook group [Feb 13]

Hearing from VSFB that NROL-57 is delayed likely 'til next month with the usual "Date/Time may change"

EDIT: A0175/25 NOTAM

Effective DateTime: Thursday, 13-Feb-25 15:33:00 UTC
Message: SPACEX NROL-57 LAUNCH IS DELAYED

[catdlr]

Shouldn't this launch have appeared on the FAA Advisory by now? (Currently showing Starlink 10-12, Starlink 15-1 and Starlink 12-14)

Vandenberg Facebook group [Feb 13]

Hearing from VSFB that NROL-57 is delayed likely 'til next month with the usual "Date/Time may change"

At least it's not due to the weather; none has been forecasted for some time now.

ICBM Launch at the north base is scheduled for the 19th.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Shouldn't this launch have appeared on the FAA Advisory by now? (Currently showing Starlink 10-12, Starlink 15-1 and Starlink 12-14)

Vandenberg Facebook group [Feb 13]

Hearing from VSFB that NROL-57 is delayed likely 'til next month with the usual "Date/Time may change"

Actually the related NOTAM zones (such as the one listed above) were cancelled around 2 days ago, so yeah this has been delayed.

[zubenelgenubi]

We may achieve some clarity soon about the March Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch schedule, as we're currently awaiting the SPHEREx and Transporter-13 launches in the first half of this month.

Another Starlink launch could follow the above-mentioned launches, instead.

Edit March 11: This launch follows Transporter-13.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch has reappeared on CADENA OIS, NET March 19 UTC/late March 18 PDT.

The air space closure zones are a bit different from previous NRO Starshield launches, perhaps even indicating an RTLS profile for the Falcon 9 first stage.

Primary Launch Day 19 Mar 0616Z-0845Z Backup Launch Day (1) 20 Mar 0602Z-0831Z Backup Launch Day (2) 21 Mar 0548Z-0817Z Backup Launch Day (3) 22 Mar 0534Z-0803Z Backup Launch Day (4) 23 Mar 0520Z-0749Z Backup Launch Day (5) 24 Mar 0507Z-0736Z Backup Launch Day (6) 25 Mar 0453Z-0722Z

[GewoonLukas_]

The aiR space closure zones are a bit different from previous NRO Starshield launches, perhaps even indicating an RTLS profile for the Falcon 9 first stage.

The NROL-57 zone is identical in downrange distance to SPHEREx, and ~180km closer then NROL-153, so yeah this is going to be a RTLS launch

[zubenelgenubi]

Near-term Vandenberg Falcon 9 schedule (UTC):
SPHEREx + PUNCH  Mar 12  LZ-4  ✅️

Transporter-13          Mar 15  LZ-4

NROL-57                     Mar 19  LZ-4

Starlink 11-7              Mar 22  OCISLY

[catdlr]

Near-term Vandenberg Falcon 9 schedule (UTC):
SPHEREx + PUNCH  Mar 12  LZ-4  ✅️

Transporter-13          Mar 15  LZ-4

NROL-57                     Mar 19  LZ-4

Starlink 11-7              Mar 22  OCISLY

When you don't need Ocisly recovery support, they can quickly turn that single launch pad around.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NET March 20 UTC now per CADENA OIS.

Primary/Backup Days Dates AHA A AHA B AHA MMFR AREA 1&2 Primary Launch Day 20 Mar 0602Z-0826Z 0602Z-0826Z 0602Z-0831Z Backup Launch Day (1) 21 Mar 0548Z-0812Z 0548Z-0812Z 0548Z-0817Z Backup Launch Day (2) 22 Mar 0534Z-0758Z 0534Z-0758Z 0534Z-0803Z Backup Launch Day (3) 23 Mar 0520Z-0744Z 0520Z-0744Z 0520Z-0749Z Backup Launch Day (4) 24 Mar 0507Z-0731Z 0507Z-0731Z 0507Z-0736Z Backup Launch Day (5) 25 Mar 0453Z-0717Z 0453Z-0717Z 0453Z-0722Z Backup Launch Day (6) 26 Mar 0439Z-0703Z 0439Z-0703Z 0439Z-0708Z

[Perchlorate]

How much is NRO/USG paying SpaceX for this launch?

[randomname]

NGA notice for this launch.

151236Z MAR 25
NAVAREA XII 155/25(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   200602Z TO 200831Z, 210548Z TO 210817Z,
   220534Z TO 220803Z, 230520Z TO 230749Z,
   240507Z TO 240736Z, 250453Z TO 250722Z,
   260439Z TO 260708Z IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 31-04.00N 118-10.00W, 30-52.00N 117-45.00W,
      30-26.00N 117-55.00W, 30-22.00N 118-23.00W,
      30-45.00N 118-35.00W.
   B. 34-41.00N 120-39.00W, 34-41.00N 120-22.00W,
      33-12.00N 119-36.00W, 31-26.00N 118-28.00W,
      31-01.00N 118-20.00W, 31-10.00N 118-28.00W,
      33-10.00N 119-40.00W, 34-26.00N 120-40.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 260808Z MAR 25.

[GewoonLukas_]

LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-57 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET March 19.

This mission is the 8th launch of NRO's proliferated architecture and 4th NRO launch of 2025.

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1901770582523290038

[Martin_G]

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

SPACEX NROL-57, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   03/20/25   0602Z-0831Z
BACKUP:      03/21/25   0548Z-0817Z

[AndrewM]

How much is NRO/USG paying SpaceX for this launch?

IIRC the SpaceX Starshield NRO contract was $1.8B in 2021 but that includes launch and manufacture of all the satellites. We don't have an actual breakdown of the launch costs.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Delayed by one day:

SPACEX NROL-57, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   03/21/25   0548Z-0817Z
BACKUP:   03/22/25   0534Z-0803Z

[catdlr]

This is a placeholder (in case I'm not available) for eventual updated links when provided by SpaceX and Alternative Lunch Coverage sites:

--------------------------

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

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

SpaceX Re-broadcast alternatives on YouTube: 
Space Affairs:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=8vp8kZon5Nk

There is no planned NSF Live coverage; alternate Pre-Launch Coverage has not been Posted Yet.
See here if a link is available:  https://www.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

NRO Highlight video available after launch (give them a few days):  https://www.youtube.com/@nationalreconnaissanceoffice/videos

Launch Ground Video (from NSF member living in the Gold Coast - I'll post if available)