Login with Patreon to Remove Ads

NROL-57

Falcon 9 Block 5

SpaceX

Launch Status
Success

Rocket Launch Videos

Weather Forecast During Launch

The forecast calls for a temperature of 53°F, broken clouds, 53% cloud cover and a wind speed of 18mph.

Trajectory

View comprehensive details including the rocket's trajectory, velocity, altitude, thrust, and more at FlightClub.io.

Learn more about rocket launch trajectories

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.

View the launch timeline

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 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 : 03 Max-Q
Maximum dynamic pressure
T+ 00 : 02 : 11 MECO
Cut-off of the main engine
T+ 00 : 02 : 14 Stage 2 Separation
Separation of the second stage from the first
T+ 00 : 02 : 22 SES-1
First start of the second engine
T+ 00 : 02 : 56 Fairing Separation
Separation of the payload fairing
T+ 00 : 05 : 57 Entry Burn Startup
Start of the atmospheric entry burn
T+ 00 : 06 : 13 Entry Burn Shutdown
End of the atmospheric entry burn
T+ 00 : 07 : 11 Stage 1 Landing Burn
Start of the first stage landing burn
T+ 00 : 07 : 38 Stage 1 Landing
Landing of the first stage
T+ 00 : 08 : 26 SECO-1
First cut-off of the second engine
T+ 00 : 54 : 01 SES-2
Second start of the second engine
T+ 00 : 54 : 04 SECO-2
Second cut-off of the second engine

Mission

NROL-57

  • Type: Government/Top Secret
  • Orbit: Unknown
  • Launch Cost: $52,000,000

Eighth 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 190 rockets, including 190 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 803 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.

Learn more about the Falcon 9 Block 5

Landing

Core B1088

The Falcon 9 booster B1088 has returned to the launch site at LZ-4 after its 4th flight. Booster B1088 last launched 04/04/2025 and has seen 5 successful launches and landings. Falcon 9 booster.

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 Updated:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

13 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ken & Judy O' Neill
Ken & Judy O' Neill
2 months ago

AT LAST ….. WE HAVE A TOP SECRET ONE.!….

V Street
V Street
1 month ago

You are breaking my home. Stop it. So far the sonic bombs have cracked the foundation of my house, knocked a chemical over and killed my cat. Cracked my toilet. Yeah, that SpaceX sure cares about US citizens…..not

Last edited 1 month ago by V Street
Rocket Monkey
Rocket Monkey
Admin
Reply to  V Street
1 month ago

We are not affiliated with SpaceX or any other rocket company. We only publish the rocket launch schedule.

V Street
V Street
Reply to  Rocket Monkey
1 month ago

I don’t care . Pass the message on. This is a work night. The complete disregard demonstrated by SpaceX is notable. Woke me up and then profoundly woke me up. Land them in the ocean.for Christs sake We are old and still working like dogs. It would be nice to… Read more »

Rocket Monkey
Rocket Monkey
Admin
Reply to  V Street
1 month ago

We don’t have any means to contact SpaceX or any rocket launch company. Have you thought about moving away from the rocket launch pad?

Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O' Neill
Reply to  V Street
1 month ago

TIME TO MOVE……….?

Lola
Lola
Reply to  V Street
1 month ago

Rip to your loss.. but there is solutions to all problems if it effects you so much

Patrick
Patrick
1 month ago

Launch is pushed to tomorrow?

Rocket Monkey
Rocket Monkey
Admin
Reply to  Patrick
1 month ago

The always up to date launch information is available here

Chris in Ojai
Chris in Ojai
1 month ago

You used the same booster on the 12th, 8 days ago ?

Rocket Monkey
Rocket Monkey
Admin
Reply to  Chris in Ojai
1 month ago

Yes, they broke their record, it was actually 9 days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_first-stage_boosters

Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O' Neill
1 month ago

MAGIC.!

Ray Toews
Ray Toews
1 month ago

Killed your car???