Launch Report: SpaceX Launches NROL-69 Monday

SpaceX launched Falcon 9 carrying the classified NROL-69 “Hummingbird” payload this afternoon from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 1:48 PM ET under sunny, hazy skies.

Some eight minutes and twenty-two seconds later, Booster B1092 finished its shift by returning to base at Landing Zone 1, a mere 5.6 miles away from the launch pad. A sonic boom heralded its arrival to the Space Coast.

Despite the 45th Weather Squadron forecasting 90% GO conditions yesterday, today’s launch seemed to be on the edge of acceptable launch conditions, as several times SpaceX commentators mentioned that the company was keeping an eye on the skies. Fortunately, the weather held, and the rocket flew on time at the start of the launch window.

Given that the payload is classified, information about this flight, such as the destination orbit, was not given. “Up there, thataway” is as accurate as any other unofficial description.

Payload

It’s classified. Those that know aren’t saying, and those that are saying don’t know.

Launch Replay

Next Launch

A Starlink launch is on the dock, this time Group 6-80 from SLC-40 at CCSFS.

Mission	Starlink Group 6-80
Launch Window Opens	Sunday, March 30, 2025, 3:16 PM EDT
Launch Window Closes	Sunday, March 30, 2025, 7:45 PM EDT
Organization	SpaceX
Launch Site	Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Space Launch Complex 40
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Status	Awaiting Confirmation
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	Deployment of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.