NROL-48
Falcon 9 Block 5
SpaceX
Rocket Launch Videos
Weather Forecast During Launch
The forecast calls for a temperature of 67°F, scattered clouds, 44% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.
Trajectory
View comprehensive details including the rocket's trajectory, velocity, altitude, thrust, and more at FlightClub.io.
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 | Prop Load Start of propelland loading |
| T- 00 : 35 : 00 | Stage 1 LOX Load Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage |
| 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 | Startup The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks |
| T- 00 : 01 : 00 | Tank Press Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels |
| 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 : 12 | Max-Q Maximum dynamic pressure |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 16 | MECO Cut-off of the main engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 20 | Stage 2 Separation Separation of the second stage from the first |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 33 | Booster Boostback Burn Startup Start of the booster boostback burn |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 37 | SES-1 First start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 02 : 52 | Fairing Separation Separation of the payload fairing |
| T+ 00 : 03 : 21 | Booster Boostback Burn Shutdown End of the booster boostback burn |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 15 | Entry Burn Startup Start of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 06 : 36 | Entry Burn Shutdown End of the atmospheric entry burn |
| T+ 00 : 07 : 28 | Stage 1 Landing Burn Start of the first stage landing burn |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 00 | Stage 1 Landing Landing of the first stage |
| T+ 00 : 08 : 40 | SECO-1 First cut-off of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 52 : 30 | SES-2 Second start of the second engine |
| T+ 00 : 52 : 32 | SECO-2 Second cut-off of the second engine |
Mission
NROL-48
- Type: Government/Top Secret
- Orbit: Unknown
- Launch Cost: $52,000,000
Eleventh 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 223 rockets, including 223 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 837 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 B1081
The Falcon 9 booster B1081 has landed back at the launch site at LZ-4 after its 18th flight. Booster B1081 last launched 09/22/2025 and has seen 18 successful launches and landings. Launched Crew-7 on its first flight.
A sonic boom is likely to occur a few minutes after launch as the booster returns to the launch site. Be prepared for a loud but thrilling experience! Learn more about rocket launch sonic booms
Landing Zone 4 - LZ-4
LZ at Vandenberg
Return to Launch Site - RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
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.
Last sonic boom knocked my door jam out of place and my screen door o longer closes without hitting the jam. STOP BREAKING OUR HOMES IN LOMPOC. OR COMPENSATE US FOR THE DAMAGE.
Please don’t shoot the messenger.
I am not shooting anyone.that would be another explosive moment..trying to keep those down if you notice.. Nice imagination.
That is anything but thrilling. Stop with the explosions. You would think with all the money Musk takes from US. He could come up with a way to not impact our homes and property.
Please don’t shoot the messenger. We don’t have any affiliation with SpaceX or Elon Musk.