Posted: Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 9:58 AM ET (1358 GMT)
A Falcon 9 set a booster turnaround record with the launch of an NRO mission. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:49 am EST (0649 GMT) Friday on the NROL-57 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The first stage used for the launch last flew just nine days ago, deploying NASA's SPHEREx and PUNCH satellites. That is the shortest turnaround between flights of the same booster to date. The launch was the 450th overall for the Falcon 9 and the eighth for the NRO's proliferated satellite constellation.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Space.com article