🚀 Falcon 9 | 🛰 NROL-145
Launch date: April 20, 2025 12:29 UTC
Payload: NROL-145
Location: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
Vehicle: Falcon 9
On April 20, 2025, SpaceX launched the 10th batch of ‘proliferated architecture’ spy satellites for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), with the mission named NROL-145. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 8:29 a.m. EDT. The mission is believed to have deployed a network of Starshield reconnaissance satellites, part of the NRO’s new paradigm utilizing many small, advanced satellites, some possibly based on modified Starlink technology. Specific payload and mission details remain classified. Falcon 9 booster B1082, on its 12th flight, successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You. The webcast concluded after booster landing at the request of the NRO, and no further information was released. This marked the NRO’s 10th proliferated architecture launch, SpaceX’s 44th Falcon 9 mission of the year, and the first of three Falcon 9 launches within a 37-hour period from different launch pads.
Videos
SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA
Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) is part of the larger Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Originally built as Launch Complex 75-1-2 and used by the U.S. Air Force for Atlas-Agena and Titan rockets in the 1960s and 1970s, it was later refurbished by SpaceX beginning in 2011. SpaceX rebuilt the facility to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches aimed at sun-synchronous and polar orbits—trajectories best served from Vandenberg.
The first Falcon 9 launch from SLC-4E took place in September 2013. Since then, it has become SpaceX’s primary West Coast launch site, supporting both government and commercial payloads, including earth observation and reconnaissance satellites. In addition to supporting reusable launch vehicle operations, SLC-4E also hosts infrastructure for rocket landing and recovery, helping to advance SpaceX’s reusability efforts.