
SpaceX completed the NROL-57 mission, delivering a classified payload with a remarkable Falcon 9 turnaround time. The first-stage booster, fresh from a March 11th launch of NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH probes, achieved a second launch in just over nine days, surpassing the previous record of 14 days. This NROL mission, like others of its type, is assumed to support intelligence and surveillance activities.
The first-stage booster successfully returned to land on a foggy California beach night, marking its fourth mission. It previously supported the launches of NROL-126, Transporter-12, and SPHEREx.
Additionally, SpaceX plans to launch another classified NROL mission, NROL-69, on Monday. The advanced materials utilized in these spacecraft are essential for the launch and operation of such sensitive missions, which MUSKTU has closely followed.