Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2025  (Read 12129 times)

Online gongora

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SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2025
« on: 03/09/2021 09:49 pm »
Discussion thread for NROL-69

2024 on Falcon 9 from LC-39A or SLC-40.



Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded two individual firm-fixed-price task orders totaling $159,721,445 under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract.  These task orders provide the basic launch services and mission integration for USSF-36 and NROL-69.  Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2021 missile and space procurement funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award.  The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA8811-21-F-0009 and FA8811-21-F-0010).
« Last Edit: 09/29/2024 03:06 am by AndrewM »

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : 2023
« Reply #1 on: 03/09/2021 11:23 pm »
SMC Press Release
The Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), awarded four National Security Space missions to Space Exploration Technologies, Inc. (SpaceX) and United Launch Alliance (ULA) under the Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contracts on Mar 09, 2021. SMC’s Launch Enterprise awarded USSF-36 and NROL-69 to SpaceX (both using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle) and USSF-112 and USSF-87 to ULA (both using the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle).

“Today, we are making it possible for our National Security Space team to accomplish our mission of providing on-orbit space capability to the warfighter,” said Col. Robert Bongiovi, director of SMC’s Launch Enterprise. “The National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contracts provide our customers affordability, flexibility, and extremely high reliability. This is the second order of the five-year Phase 2 ordering period. We are very pleased with the flexibility offered by our Phase 2 providers to make the best launch choices and adjustments as we proceed.”

USSF-36 has a scheduled launch date in the second quarter of FY23, NROL-69 in the fourth quarter of FY23, USSF-112 in the third quarter of FY23, and USSF-87 in the fourth quarter of FY23.

SMC issued ULA task orders for USSF-112 and USSF-87 for $225 million, which include basic launch services and mission integration. SMC issued SpaceX task orders for USSF-36 and NROL-69 for $160 million, which include basic launch services and mission integration for USSF-36 and only basic launch services for NROL-69. The NRO will fund its mission integration separately.

The Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California, is the U.S. Space Force’s center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. The Center’s portfolio includes the Space Launch and Range Systems, Global Positioning System, Military Satellite Communications, Defense Meteorological Satellites, Satellite Control Networks, Space Based Infrared Systems and Space Situational Awareness capabilities.

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : Q4 2023
« Reply #2 on: 07/05/2023 05:43 am »
NextSpaceflight, updated July 4:
Launch NET October 2023, either LC-39A or SLC-40

I think this listing's previous launch month was NET September = Q3 in NextSF jargon.
« Last Edit: 07/05/2023 05:46 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Alexphysics

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : Q4 2023
« Reply #3 on: 07/05/2023 06:28 am »
NextSpaceflight, updated July 4:
Launch NET October 2023, either LC-39A or SLC-40

I think this listing's previous launch month was NET September = Q3 in NextSF jargon.

Just for the record, the last change to this mission was in September 2, 2022 per our internal logs.

Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : Q4 2023
« Reply #4 on: 08/12/2023 01:24 am »
West coast best coast?

Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : VSFB SLC-4E : Q4 2023
« Reply #5 on: 08/12/2023 01:12 pm »
I wouldn't change the thread title yet.   I think someone's messing with me, but not sure.

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Q4 2023
« Reply #6 on: 09/22/2023 06:33 pm »
Any new news?  4th quarter is days away.

I know there's been quite a lot of confusing jumps on the schedule of certain classified missions for SpaceX. This is not just for them but also ULA and such and if you remember it's also been a problem for a while as well (see USSF-44 being delayed 2 years). Not sure what's going on but it doesn't look like military payloads have had the best of luck lately trying to be on schedule.

This is in relation with the USSF-124 mission jumping back and forth on nextspaceflight from NET November to NET October 31st, etc. We'll see what happens with that mission - same with USSF-52 and friends.
« Last Edit: 09/22/2023 06:34 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Q4 2023
« Reply #7 on: 09/23/2023 12:39 pm »
Any new news?  4th quarter is days away.

I know there's been quite a lot of confusing jumps on the schedule of certain classified missions for SpaceX. This is not just for them but also ULA and such and if you remember it's also been a problem for a while as well (see USSF-44 being delayed 2 years). Not sure what's going on but it doesn't look like military payloads have had the best of luck lately trying to be on schedule.

This is in relation with the USSF-124 mission jumping back and forth on nextspaceflight from NET November to NET October 31st, etc. We'll see what happens with that mission - same with USSF-52 and friends.
I wouldn't make travel plans anytime soon.
« Last Edit: 09/23/2023 01:16 pm by Newton_V »

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Q4 2023?
« Reply #8 on: 10/03/2023 11:36 pm »
I wouldn't make travel plans anytime soon.

NextSpaceflight, updated October 1:
Launch NET November 2023

Launch would be from SLC-40 if in November or December?

I suspect that this launch will slip one month into the future per month for a while. 🤨
« Last Edit: 10/09/2023 11:55 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #9 on: 10/09/2023 11:54 am »
NextSpaceflight, updated October 9:
Launch NET January 2024 = NET 2024; launch options include both LC-39A and SLC-40.
« Last Edit: 10/09/2023 11:58 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #10 on: 11/18/2023 10:21 pm »
NRO Mission Patch:

Found an L-91 beer in the fridge.  Still tastes good.
Lukas C. H. • Hobbyist Mission Patch Artist 🎨 • May the force be with you my friend, Ad Astra Per Aspera ✨️

Offline rocketenthusiast

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #11 on: 11/18/2023 10:47 pm »
NRO Mission Patch:

Found an L-91 beer in the fridge.  Still tastes good.
does anyone who knows more than me get any more info from patch?

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #12 on: 11/19/2023 04:45 am »
NRO Mission Patch:

Found an L-91 beer in the fridge.  Still tastes good.
does anyone who knows more than me get any more info from patch?

"Numquam Hibernare" means "Never Hibernate", and the bird in the patch appears to be a Hummingbird.

Quote
Hummingbirds have varied specialized characteristics to enable rapid, maneuverable flight, exceptional metabolic capacity, adaptations to high altitude, sensitive visual and communication abilities, and long-distance migration in some species.

Sounds like some highly maneuverable observation satellite? Possibly SAR?
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Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #13 on: 11/19/2023 08:18 pm »
NRO Mission Patch:
Found an L-91 beer in the fridge.  Still tastes good.
does anyone who knows more than me get any more info from patch?

The bird 🐦 🐦‍⬛ appears to be origami.

The obvious "patch-ology" clues were supposed to be removed from the launch artwork years ago.  But in that vein, perhaps the payload unfolds to deploy for operations?

The multifaceted nature of the bird resembles the F-117.  Something low-observable in multiple frequencies of the EM spectrum?

Or someone(s) just likes origami? 👍 👌 🤔

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."
« Last Edit: 11/19/2023 08:22 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #14 on: 05/19/2024 05:47 pm »
NextSpaceflight; updated recently:
Launch NET second quarter 2024; changed from NET June 2024?

The until-recently NextSF jargon used "NET end-of-quarter month" for NET "that quarter."

Can we expect launch in June?

If so, launch will be from SLC-40.



Speculation:
Second SHARP?

A possible successor to Advanced Orion?  And/or Raven/Trumpet Follow-on 2?

Payload fits under a standard Falcon 9 fairing?

If so, then the (deduced) Orion 12 that launched aboard the last Delta IV-Heavy may be the last of that line?

Launch thread for what may be SHARP 1: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33970.0

Edited
« Last Edit: 06/10/2024 10:22 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #15 on: 06/09/2024 10:56 pm »
NextSpaceflight; updated recently:
Launch NET second quarter 2024; changed from NET June 2024?

The until-recently NextSF jargon used "NET end-of-quarter month" for NET "that quarter."

Can we expect launch in June?

If so, launch will be from SLC-40.
We're running out of June. 🏃‍♀️

Caveat
Regarding public information sources, National Security launches nowadays can appear suddenly (as one can see from the current short thread length).
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Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #16 on: 06/25/2024 10:41 pm »
Obsolete schedule, but it demonstrates that there is no more room in June for another launch.
SLC-40

Jun 20 21:35   Astra 1P/SES-24  JRTI

Jun 23 17:03   Starlink 10-2         ASOG

Jun 25  09:07  Starlink 8-9           JRTI

Jun 28  10:55  Starlink 10-3        ASOG
So, NET H2 2024.
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Offline AndrewM

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #17 on: 07/30/2024 02:30 am »
Might be on the manifest for Q3. The article was published before the anomaly on Starlink 9-3 so it may also be delayed into Q4 now.

Quote
Two yet-to-be-confirmed missions may take place in the next quarter as well. These are the NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office and the first operational flight of AST SpaceMobile’s BluBird satellites.

NSF SpaceX continues record-breaking year with Starship’s full success and Falcon milestones, Alejandro Alcantarilla Romera, July 1

[edit: zubenelgenubi]
« Last Edit: 09/15/2024 06:45 pm by zubenelgenubi »

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2024
« Reply #18 on: 09/15/2024 06:46 pm »
Any new news?
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Offline AndrewM

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Re: SpaceX F9 : NROL-69 : Florida : 2025
« Reply #19 on: 09/29/2024 03:05 am »
There was an industry day help for Lane 1 in August. It includes the NRO, SDA, and USSF planned contract awards & launches.

https://sam.gov/opp/7111789df59149cd81596402c35e33d3/view

As part of the industry day, SDA-T1TL-B was identified as the next Falcon 9 NSSL mission (page 12). Page 30 shows T1TL launches starting in FY25 Q3 so NROL-69 should be in 2025 now.

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