SpaceX F9 : NROL-192 : VSFB SLC-4E : 12 April 2025 (12:25 UTC)

[zubenelgenubi]

Thread for the ninth eighth Starshield launch, NROL-192.

Launch 12 April 2025, at 12:25 UTC (5:25 am PDT), from Vandenberg SLC-4E, on booster 1071-24. The first stage 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]

New entry
NROL-192
NextSpaceflight; updated November 29:
Launch NET 2024, SLC-4E, likely the eighth Starshield launch

Hypothetical SLC-4E near-term schedule; UTC (best viewed in landscape):

✅️ 13 Dec 21:55  Starlink 11-2                                     OCISLY

16 Dec 09:33       NROL-149 (Starshield + Starlink)  OCISLY

Dec 20 11:53       Bandwagon-2                                    LZ-4

NET late Dec       NROL-153 (Starshield + Starlink)  OCISLY

NET end of Dec  NROL-192 (Starshield + Starlink)  OCISLY

We don't yet know if any more December Vandenberg Starlink launches will follow Starlink 11-2.  Such a launch may be pushed into early January 2025, before Transporter-12.

[GewoonLukas_]

NROL-149 is the final NRO launch of 2024, so this launch is NET 2025:

LAUNCH UPDATE: #NROL149 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET December 17.

This mission is the sixth launch of NRO's proliferated architecture, eighth launch of 2024 and last launch of the year!

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1868287421432881211

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 11-6 currently scheduled to launch on January 24.

Is the next Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch at the very end of January?  Or NET February?

[zubenelgenubi]

Starlink 11-6 currently scheduled to launch on January 24.

Is the next Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch at the very end of January?  Or NET February?

Starlink 11-4 is now scheduled to launch next on January 30/31 UTC.

This launch is now NET February.

[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]

Bump
NROL-192 could launch NET end of March or earliest April, after Starlink 11-7.  Probably a RTLS for the first stage, as is NROL-57, so OCISLY turnaround is not a concern, as it would be for a Starlink launch.

Also note the first stage of NROL-57 is now plotted for landing at LZ-4.

Edit March 21: Starlink 11-13 will launch March 31 UTC.  This launch is now NET April.

Edit March 22:  NROL-57 apparently carried 11 Starshield satellites, with a LZ-4 first stage landing.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

NextSpaceflight; updated April 6:

NROL-192
Launch Time
Sat Apr 12, 2025 12:17 GMT
...
Of Course I Still Love You
...
SLC-4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Next launch after Starlink 11-11.

It's OCISLY first stage landing, so likely 21 or 22 satellites.  Will they all be Starshield, or a mix of Starshield and Starlink?


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:
1075.18  Feb 1
1071.24  Feb 11
1082.12  Feb 23
1081.14  Mar 15
1063.25  Mar 26
1088.6    Apr 4     (maybe)

Edit April 11: It's B1071.24, skipping B1075.18.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The launch has now appeared on CADENA OIS:

Primary Launch Day 12 APR 1217Z-1646Z Backup Launch Day (1) 13 APR 1203Z-1632Z Backup Launch Day (2) 14 APR 1150Z-1619Z Backup Launch Day (3) 15 APR 1136Z-1605Z Backup Launch Day (4) 16 APR 1122Z-1551Z Backup Launch Day (5) 17 APR 1108Z-1537Z Backup Launch Day (6) 18 APR 1054Z-1523Z

[StraumliBlight]

https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15#

Hazard Area Evaluation
The National Airspace System (NAS) hazard area evaluation examined three Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) associated with the launch. The first, AHA-A, extends from the launch site to 88nm southeast and is contained within the Los Angeles FIR. The second, AHA B, extends from 293nm southeast of the launch site to 980nm southeast and is contained within the Mazatlan FIR. The fourth AHA is associated with the 2nd Stage Reentry and is located west of South America and lies within the NTTT and SCIZ FIRs.

Operational Impact
The AHAs length and location will impact various Pacific Oceanic airways and portions of Warning Areas. Traffic Management Initiatives (TMIs) will include reroutes and may include Mile-in-Trail restrictions. Flight data used for the examination of the AHAs was pulled from the most recent 30 corresponding days and similar launch times. Reroutes to protect the AHAs may result in an approximate average of 35nm / <5 minutes.

[randomname]

NGA space debris notice for this launch.

080443Z APR 25
HYDROPAC 901/25(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   121404Z TO 121842Z, 131350Z TO 131828Z,
   141337Z TO 141815Z, 151323Z TO 151801Z,
   161309Z TO 161747Z, 171255Z TO 171733Z
   AND 181241Z TO 181719Z 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 181819Z APR 25.//

[randomname]

Additional NGA notice for this launch emailed after my previous post:

080530Z APR 25
NAVAREA XII 213/25(18,21).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
   A. 121217Z TO 121646Z, 131203Z TO 131632Z,
      141150Z TO 141619Z, 151136Z TO 151605Z,
      161122Z TO 161551Z, 171108Z TO 171537Z
      AND 181054Z TO 181523Z 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. 121217Z TO 121642Z, 131203Z TO 131628Z,
      141150Z TO 141615Z, 151136Z TO 151601Z,
      161122Z TO 161547Z, 171108Z TO 171533Z
      AND 181054Z TO 181519Z 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. 121217Z TO 121640Z, 131203Z TO 131626Z,
      141150Z TO 141613Z, 151136Z TO 151559Z,
      161122Z TO 161545Z, 171108Z TO 171531Z
      AND 181054Z TO 181517Z 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 181623Z APR 25.//

[Martin_G]

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

SPACEX NROL-192, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY:   04/12/25   1217Z-1646Z
BACKUP:      04/13/25   1203Z-1632Z

[GewoonLukas_]

LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-192 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base NET April 12.

This mission is the 9th overall launch of NRO's proliferated architecture and 3rd so far this year!

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1910332123946381397

[GewoonLukas_]

Booster B1071-24
Launch NET 12:25 UTC

SpaceX is targeting Saturday, April 12 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-192 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 5:25 a.m. PT. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Sunday, April 13 starting at 5:09 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 24th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, and 14 Starlink missions. 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.

https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=nrol-192

[Steven Pietrobon]

PDF of online press kit.

[catdlr]

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

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

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

There is no planned NSF Live coverage; alternate Pre-Launch Coverage:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=vK8AVVGsU9M

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

Launch Ground Video (from local resident in Santa Barbara - I'll post if available)

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

[GewoonLukas_]

Mission success:

NRO Launches Ninth Proliferated Architecture Mission with NROL-192
April 12, 2025

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-192 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 12, 2025, at 8:25 a.m. EDT.

Today’s mission is the ninth overall launch of the NRO’s architecture and third proliferated launch of 2025. The rapid deployment of NRO’s proliferated constellation directly supports the needs of the people NRO serves – intelligence analysts, warfighters, policymakers, and first responders. Having hundreds of NRO satellites on orbit will allow for critical data to be delivered to NRO’s stakeholders faster than ever before.

Over the past two years, NRO has launched more than 150 satellites, creating the largest and most capable government constellation on orbit in our nation’s history. Continuing with this momentum, 2025 is set to be another dynamic year, with approximately one dozen NRO launches scheduled. Approximately half of these launches will focus on advancing the NRO’s proliferated architecture with additional proliferated launches planned through 2029, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.

[...]

[catdlr]

Back filling:

Launch

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1911033180565483621

[catdlr]

Landing:

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1911035183890850053