NROL-69: SpaceX launches US spy satellites, on Falcon liftoff 19th anniversary

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on March 24, at 1748 UTC on the NROL-69 mission, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The Falcon 9 first-stage booster (B1092) landed as expected, at Landing Zone 1, triggering sonic booms heard in parts of Central Florida.

The mission is part of the National Security Space Launch(NSSL) program, and the NRO partnered with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command for this launch.

The mission logo features an origami hummingbird with the Latin phrase "Numquan Hibernare," meaning "never hibernate," symbolizing the speed and agility of the NRO's operations

"The Hummingbird illustrates the speed and agility with which we provide an advantage to the nation and its allies," the NRO's mission description reads. "'Numquan hibernare' is Latin for 'Never hibernate.' Our bird is ever vigilant."

We don't know what orbit NROL-69 is targeting. SpaceX does not normally provide that payload information during national security missions, and the company cut off its webcast at the NRO's request about nine minutes after launch, following the Falcon 9 first stage's successful touchdown.

SpaceX has launched two other NRO missions so far in 2025 — NROL-153 in January and NROL-57 this past Friday (March 21). The company set a new rocket reuse record on NROL-57, flying the same Falcon 9 first stage for the second time in just nine days.

Both NROL-153 and NROL-57 were dedicated to building out the NRO's "proliferated architecture," a large constellation of relatively small, cost-effective satellites that's designed to increase resilience, capability and responsiveness, according to the agency.

The proliferated architecture spacecraft are thought to be modified versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites, which the company produces in bulk.

Today's launch occured on the 19th anniversary of the SpaceX's first-ever liftoff. The company sent a Falcon 1 rocket skyward from Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific. That mission failed, as did the next two Falcon 1 flights. The rocket bounced back, acing its fourth and fifth missions in September 2008 and July 2009, respectively, before being retired in favor of the Falcon 9., which debuted in June 2010.

NROL-69 was the 25th orbital rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2025.