Space Systems Command (SSC) has announced the assignment of 21 launch service missions for the FY24 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract following completion of the NSSL Mission Assignment Board’s assignment process for FY24 launch service awards. This is the fifth, and last, order year in the Phase 2 contract.
These Order Year 5 (OY5) missions are scheduled to launch over the next two to three years and focus on a variety of mission areas.
The 10 missions assigned to Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) are: SDA T1TL-F, SDA T1TR-A, GPS IIIF-1, NROL-77, SDA T1TR-E, GPS III-10, USSF-75, SDA T2TL-A, SDA T2TL-C, and USSF-70.
NROL-77, NROL-73, NROL-56, NROL-109, and NROL-100 are missions being conducted in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
And, for those curious, here's the rundown of the 21 mission assignments: https://cnbc.com/2023/11/01/space-force-awards-spacex-ula-with-2point5-billion-for-21-launches.html
Patch-ologists report: What could a flying (gliding) squirrel signify?A large reflective surface?14 stars and 1 Full Moon (reminds me of the old Procter and Gamble logo before the Amway Satanist claims)Quote: Another one g(?)one--today, tomorrow, and beyond ("cone" makes no sense)
The NRO, working through the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, are committed to providing U.S. policymakers and warfighters the collection capabilities and tools necessary to meet national security demands today, tomorrow, and beyond.
The flying squirrel is a symbol of hard work and endurance – always active gathering foundational knowledge from the space domain for the nation and its allies.Every mission counts, every decision matters, and every advancement propels us further. “Another One Gone – Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond” embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Could be a VLEO air breathing satellite (e.g. Sabersat/Otter) able to glide in the upper thermosphere.
December 9, 2025NROL-77 MissionWATCHSpaceX is targeting Tuesday, December 9 for a Falcon 9 launch of the NROL-77 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch window opens at 2:16 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, December 10 starting at 2:02 p.m. ET.A live webcast of the NROL-77 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 X TV app.This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched KF-01, IMAP, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.NROL-77 will be the third mission Falcon 9 will launch in 2025 on behalf of the Space Systems Command and National Reconnaissance Office, continuing to deliver assured access to space.
QuoteDecember 9, 2025NROL-77 Mission<snip>Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
December 9, 2025NROL-77 Mission<snip>Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Finally posted on Cadena https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15
Hazard Area EvaluationThe National Airspace System (NAS) hazard area evaluation examined three Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) and the Special Use Airspace (SUA) associated with this launch. The first, AHA A, extends from the launch site to 33nm northeastward. The second, AHA-B, extends from 188nm northeast of the launch site to 318nm northeast. These AHAs are within Miami, Jacksonville and New York ARTCCs. A third AHA safeguarding the Stage 2 reentry is located West of the Galapagos Island in the Mazatlan, NO FIR.and Tahiti FIRs
This mission is NRO’s 10th and final launch of 2025 and 4th this year in partnership with @USSF_SSC.
First StageFalcon 9’s first stage incorporates nine Merlin engines and aluminum-lithium alloy tanks containing liquid oxygen and rocketgrade kerosene (RP-1) propellant, generating more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust at sea level. After separation, the fist stage will return to Landing Zone 4.
Quote from: tottaway22 on 12/04/2025 01:07 pmFinally posted on Cadena https://www.cadenaois.org/vpublic_anspdetail.jsp?view=15QuoteHazard Area EvaluationThe National Airspace System (NAS) hazard area evaluation examined three Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) and the Special Use Airspace (SUA) associated with this launch. <snip>
Hazard Area EvaluationThe National Airspace System (NAS) hazard area evaluation examined three Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) and the Special Use Airspace (SUA) associated with this launch. <snip>
Falcon 9, December 9 @ 2:16 p.m. EST (pad 40 + LZ landing, northeast trajectory): This is expected to be the last landing at LZ-2 and the final time you can watch one from Jetty Park.
LAUNCH UPDATE: NROL-77 is scheduled to launch on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station NET December 9. This mission is NRO’s 10th and final launch of 2025 and 4th this year in partnership with @USSF_SSC. 🤝
Re speculation on the patch, gliding squirrel, and "another one gone" and what the payload is...My first impression was that the 'tree' it is guiding itself to is a piece of space debris (or arguably hostile hardware), which it can then somehow grapple or scoop up and de-orbit, before returning itself to a parking orbit awaiting future space debris target. Bonus points if the space debris is something larger than itself e.g. an old rocket body.I'm agnostic about what sort of propulsion etc. would suit this. Mostly solar-electric but also significant storable chemical?Snowy ground and trees indicate a high inclination? The other patch straight up shows the inclination. Gathering acorns also fits with sequentially catching various pieces. Hmm."7" is a big theme here. Even the motto has 7 words. Just a reference to "NROL-77" or something deeper?
STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM PREDICTED: A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading straight for Earth. NOAA forecasters say that strong G3-class geomagnetic storms are possible when it arrives on Dec. 9th. The full halo CME was launched on Dec. 6th by an M8-class solar flare from sunspot 4299. If it is as potent as NOAA thinks, it could spark auroras from the Arctic Circle to mid-latitude US states. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.
Marco Langbroek thinks it could be a NOSS SIGINT satellite, or satellite duo.https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2025/12/nrol-77-probably-new-noss-or-maybe-not.html
Navigational Warnings point to initial launch into a ~49 degree inclined coasting orbit. Upon passing the descending node of that parking orbit, about an hour after launch, the Falcon 9 upper stage with payload will manoeuver into a ~63.4 degree inclined orbit, likely ~1000 x 1200 km. The upper stage deorbits at the end of the first revolution, in the eastern Pacific.initially briefly comtemplated a higher, more unusual orbit, at 1950 km altitude, based on the ~14 minute daily shift backwards of the launch window (as gleaned from Navigational Warning NAVAREA IV 1337). That was an overinterpretation (I blame the COVID infection I suffered the past week, it messes with the brain): the NOSS-like 1000 x 1200 km orbit is more likely and it fits the location and shape of the upper stage deorbit area well.
SpaceX@SpaceXTargeting Tuesday, December 9 for a Falcon 9 launch of the @USSF_SSC and @NRO_gov’s NROL-77 mission from pad 40 in Florida → http://spacex.com/launches/nrol77
End of an eraThe planned landing of B1096 at LZ-2 may very well wrap up SpaceX’s time using this site as a landing location for its Falcon boosters.In an effort to increase access to launch providers at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Space Launch Delta 45 decided all launch providers need to return their rocket boosters to landing sites at their launch pads.SpaceX has been taking the necessary steps to shift its recovery infrastructure away from LZ-1 and LZ-2. The company’s lease for these sites ends on Dec. 31, 2025.
SpaceX@SpaceXAll systems are looking good and weather is 98% favorable for liftoff. Propellant load is about to begin for today’s launch of the @USSF_SSC and @NRO_gov’s NROL-77 mission from Florida → http://spacex.com/launches/nrol77
SpaceX@SpaceXAbout eight minutes after liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage will return to Landing Zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, announcing its arrival with a sonic boom
SECO,Parking Orbit insertion callout,End broadcast
Quote from: catdlr on 12/09/2025 06:26 pmSECO,Parking Orbit insertion callout,End broadcastThe callout was 'Nominal orbit insertion'
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s (SSC), System Delta 80, Space Launch Delta 45, and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-77 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Dec. 9, 2025, at 2:16 p.m. ET. The Falcon 9 first stage booster safely returned to Landing Zone 2 after delivering the national security payload to orbit.Today’s successful mission highlights the close working relationship between NRO and SSC to ensure reliable and cost-effective access to space for national security missions. “The partnership between NRO and SSC continues to strengthen our nation's space superiority through innovative launch solutions and shared expertise," said Col. Kathryn Cantu, director, NRO Office of Space Launch, and NROL-77 mission director. “As space becomes increasingly contested, this partnership enables us to rapidly deploy advanced intelligence capabilities while maintaining the agility and resilience needed to address emerging threats. Our collaborative approach ensures America's continued leadership in space-based national security operations well into the future.”NROL-77 is the second NRO mission launched with SpaceX from the NSSL Phase 2 contract awarded in August 2020. NSSL, a government launch acquisition partnership program between SSC and NRO aimed at ensuring continued assured access to space for national security missions, is overseen and operated by SSC’s System Delta 80 headquartered at Los Angeles AirForce Base in California.Earlier this Spring, NRO partnered with SSC to launch NROL-69 and NROL-145 through the NSSL program and NROL-174 through the Rocket Systems Launch Program. “A collaborative team of dedicated experts from System Delta 80, NRO, and SpaceX validated the flight hardware and integration essentials that assured successful delivery of the mission,” said Col. Ryan M. Hiserote, System Delta 80 commander and NSSL program manager. “And kudos to our SSC SLD-45 teammates who operated the range systems and infrastructure as part of this launch. NROL-77 was our last NSSL mission this calendar year. Together, we look forward to another busy year in 2026.”
SpaceX@SpaceXFalcon 9 launches NROL-77 from Florida, completing our 11th National Security Space Launch this year and delivering assured access to space
Quote from: mn on 12/09/2025 06:44 pmQuote from: catdlr on 12/09/2025 06:26 pmSECO,Parking Orbit insertion callout,End broadcastThe callout was 'Nominal orbit insertion'The callout was nominal, but the gray-banded tank indicates another burn at a later time (hours later for some flights). Therefore, it should have been referred to as a "Nominal Parking Orbit Insertion." He likely made a mistake. I oversee all the Starlink launches, and the individuals making these calls are inconsistent; I hear some refer to "Nominal Orbit Insertion" when it should actually be "Nominal Parking Orbit," as there is a subsequent (45-minute) orbit circularization burn with deployment immediately afterward, followed by the post-flight confirmation of successful deployment from SpaceX. This inconsistency is either due to a lack of the correct script in front of them, habitual behavior, or a simple slip of the tongue, which some call "brain fart". We all know what they mean to say. To me, it's trivial, unless we get a bandwagon launch and I have to make the right calls, even when SpaceX goes wrong. Starlink launches were wrong for years, calling it "Nominal Orbit Insertion" when it should have been "Parking orbit", only recently calling it correctly (sometimes). https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62391.msg2741543#msg2741543
Quote from: catdlr on 12/09/2025 07:20 pmQuote from: mn on 12/09/2025 06:44 pmQuote from: catdlr on 12/09/2025 06:26 pmSECO,Parking Orbit insertion callout,End broadcastThe callout was 'Nominal orbit insertion'The callout was nominal, but the gray-banded tank indicates another burn at a later time (hours later for some flights). Therefore, it should have been referred to as a "Nominal Parking Orbit Insertion." He likely made a mistake. I oversee all the Starlink launches, and the individuals making these calls are inconsistent; I hear some refer to "Nominal Orbit Insertion" when it should actually be "Nominal Parking Orbit," as there is a subsequent (45-minute) orbit circularization burn with deployment immediately afterward, followed by the post-flight confirmation of successful deployment from SpaceX. This inconsistency is either due to a lack of the correct script in front of them, habitual behavior, or a simple slip of the tongue, which some call "brain fart". We all know what they mean to say. To me, it's trivial, unless we get a bandwagon launch and I have to make the right calls, even when SpaceX goes wrong. Starlink launches were wrong for years, calling it "Nominal Orbit Insertion" when it should have been "Parking orbit", only recently calling it correctly (sometimes). https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=62391.msg2741543#msg2741543It's not so clear cut to me that it's incorrect or a mistake.It can just mean that we achieved the 'intended' orbit, it ok to call that 'nominal orbit insertion' even if it's not the final orbit.
I noticed, that so far, nobody mentioned that it was launched into the same orbital plane as the NOSS 3-8 duo.So due to that it reminds me of USA 327, which is co-planar to the NOSS 3-6 duo.
