NROL-113
Falcon 9 Block 5
SpaceX
Rocket Launch Videos
Rocket Launch Timeline
Enhance your rocket launch experience with a detailed timeline! From pre-launch preparations to post-launch milestones, a well-structured schedule ensures every step—payload prep, safety checks, and liftoff—runs smoothly. Stay informed and follow the action with precision.
| T- 00 : 38 : 00 | GO for Prop Load Launch director verifies go for propellant load |
| T- 00 : 35 : 00 | Stage 1 LOX Load Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage |
| T- 00 : 35 : 00 | Prop Load Start of propelland loading |
| T- 00 : 16 : 00 | Stage 2 LOX Load Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage |
| T- 00 : 07 : 00 | Engine Chill Start of engine chilling |
| T- 00 : 01 : 00 | Tank Press Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels |
| T- 00 : 01 : 00 | Startup The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T- 00 : 00 : 45 | GO for Launch Launch director verifies go for launch |
| T- 00 : 00 : 03 | Ignition Start of the engine ignition sequence |
| T+ 00 : 00 : 00 | Liftoff First upwards movement of the rocket |
| T+ 00 : 01 : 06 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 26 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 30 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 36 | SES-1 First start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 00 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 13 | Entry Burn Startup Start of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 33 | Entry Burn Shutdown End of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 00 | Stage 1 Landing Burn Start of the first stage landing burn |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 22 | Stage 1 Landing Landing of the first stage |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 40 | SECO-1 First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 53 : 47 | SES-2 Second start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 53 : 49 | SECO-2 Second cut-off of the second engine |
Mission
NROL-113
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
- Launch Cost: $52,000,000
Third batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.
Location
Space Launch Complex 4E
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Find the best place to watch the launch from Vandenberg
Space Launch Complex 4E has witnessed the launch of 181 rockets, including 181 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 793 rocket launches.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Rocket
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
Landing
Core B1063
The Falcon 9 first stage B1063 has landed on ASDS OCISLY after its 20th flight. Booster B1063 last launched 01/24/2025 and has seen 23 successful launches and landings. Notable launches include Sentinel-6 and Dart.
Of Course I Still Love You - OCISLY
The second ASDS barge, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) services launches in the Pacific Ocean and was the site of the first landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage during CRS-8, the launch of a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.
Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship - ASDS
An autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) is an ocean-going vessel derived from a deck barge, outfitted with station-keeping engines and a large landing platform. Construction of such ships was commissioned by aerospace company SpaceX to allow for recovery of rocket first-stages at sea for high-velocity missions which do not carry enough fuel to return to the launch site after lofting spacecraft onto an orbital trajectory.
Agency
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Long live SPACEX…….
Enough delays!Fix your little problems and light this candle!
Yea, like it’s not rocket science guys.
Just a little involved we think…..there is a button on the side that says “GO”.
It’s not rocket rocket surgery as David Lee Roth use tosay!
Anyone have any insights on the launch tomorrow evening? It is a four hour trip for me to get to the launch site and these military payloads seem to slip often.
As of right now the launch is go. Check the status here just before you leave and on the drive over. Barring any technical or weather issues the launch should happen.
whats the trajectory?
The trajectory is not public until the last minute for these top secret launches. Check back for updates.
Up & away we hope.?
Will it be visible from Los Angeles?
You should be able to see the launch from LA as long as the clouds and weather cooperates.
Is it me or do the launches have more of a wow effect pre or slightly post sunset? I happen to see two launches that were around midnight and they were not so bright. Is it the sun reflecting off of the vapor/spent fuel trail that gives it that special… Read more »
Absolutely, it is called the Jellyfish effect. Watch our video about it to learn more: https://youtu.be/tIUeX8wjV9g
you will be able to see it if you don’t melt first!
Can we see this from Phoenix?
Yes! Also from Salome and Gilbert.
Will we be able to see it in west central Az
Fantastic .!!!!!!!