Falcon 9 • NROL-48

September 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the NROL-48 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The flight will be the 11th mission supporting the agency’s proliferated architecture, a constellation believed to consist of Starshield satellites. SpaceX used the Falcon 9 booster, tail number B1081, which launched for an 18th time. Eight minutes after liftoff, B1081 landed back at Landing Zone 4. Delayed from Sept. 21.