SpaceX will launch the NROL-69 mission using a Falcon 9 rocket on March 24

SpaceX has announced that it is preparing to launch the NROL-69 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) using a Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, March 24, 2025, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with liftoff scheduled for 1:48 p.m. ET (17:48 UTC).

However, they also noted that if necessary, a backup opportunity is available on Wednesday, March 25, 2025, at 1:34 p.m. ET. This classified mission, part of a $159.7 million contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2021, is likely related to a reconnaissance satellite, though specific details remain undisclosed due to its national security nature.

The Falcon 9’s first stage booster, which previously supported a Starlink mission and is on its second flight, will attempt a return-to-launch-site landing at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral, demonstrating SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology.

A live webcast of the launch will begin approximately ten minutes before liftoff (around 1:38 p.m. ET) and can be viewed on SpaceX’s website, on X via @SpaceX, or through the new X TV app, while in-person viewing options such as Kennedy Space Center, Playalinda Beach, or Jetty Park are available, weather permitting.

This launch strengthens SpaceX’s critical role in both commercial and government spaceflight as part of its ambitious 2025 schedule, following a record-breaking performance in 2024.