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[Jezbollah]

SpaceX's Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch in a window between 07:00 and 09:00 EST (11:00 and 13:00 UTC) today. This is the fifth launch of Falcon 9 in 2017, and the 33rd launch of Falcon 9.

What is the mission?

Falcon 9 v1.2 will launch from Kennedy Space Center pad LC-39A to launch NROL76, containing a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance office.

Classified? National Reconnaissance Office? What's all this?

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) forms part of the United States Intelligence Community and is an agency of the US Department of Defence. This department form, manage and maintain the US spy satellite network. This launch represents the first contracted SpaceX mission for the NRO. Details of this payload is classified information - most of SpaceX themselves don't know what it is! Read more about the NRO HERE

This is another first, isn't it?

It is! SpaceX actually had to sue the US government to be able to compete for NROL launches - these launches were previously the domain of another private launch service, and SpaceX competitor, the United Launch Alliance (ULA). You can see a few of these previous launches by the ULA here: NROL-37 (Delta IV Heavy) and NROL-61 (Atlas V).

What does this mean for the launch coverage?

As per normal NROL launches (shown in the clips above), the NRO requests that coverage of the Launch vehicle is terminated soon after first stage separation. This is to ensure as much secrecy as to the target location of the payload orbit. Where in previous ULA launches the webcast has stopped (due to the rockets being expendable... yuk), for this mission we will see the separation of the first stage and then ride along with the first stage for it's landing attempt!

Landing attempt? Where?

This mission's first stage, B1032, will be attempting a landing on land at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Where can I watch the launch?

Due to the nature of the launch, there will be only one SpaceX Webcast stream for NROL-76, and you can find it HERE!

EDIT: SCRUB for today (Sunday 30th) due to a first stage turbo sensor issue. Backup window is same time window on Monday.

EDIT 2: Successful launch and landing of the first stage. No news yet of successful payload deployment (if there is news at all...)

EDIT 3: Elon confirms: Total Mission Success!

 

[golem]

F1 and a SpaceX launch today? Nice!

 

[CyclopsRock]

Another RTLS during the day so we should get some really nice footage is the landing attempt.

 

[Tacitus_]

Another RTLS during the day so we should get some really nice footage is the landing attempt.

Not being on the boat is also a huge factor as they don't need to depend on a satellite uplink for the video stream.

 

[Jezbollah]

Looks like they are targeting a 07:15ET Launch time.

 

[Par Score]

Webcast video is up, tune in early for the most banging tunes from SpaceX Radio.

 

[adamy]

Looks like they are targeting a 07:15ET Launch time.

So 15 mins?

 

[Jezbollah]

Webcast now live.

 

[Par Score]

Webcast is live!

Looks like NRO means less razamataz.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Only a little over six minutes. Good timing.

 

[Koshiro]

Finally I catch one of these live, and it's a secret one that has to cut coverage. Oh well, I'll stick around for the landing. Here's hoping.

 

[Par Score]

Finally I catch one of these live, and it's a secret one that has to cut coverage. Oh well, I'll stick around for the landing. Here's hoping.

The only coverage you're missing is watching the second stage booster firing a few times and the satellite being deployed.

It's cool, and it's obviously the most important part of the mission, but it's not the exciting stuff.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Checking in. This stuff is great.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

One minute to go!

Edit:
Slight delay now. Damn

 

[Jezbollah]

HOLD! Issue with Turbo sensor on the first stage.

 

[Par Score]

Hold hold hold.

24hr recycle, let's try again tomorrow.

 

[Koshiro]

The only coverage you're missing is watching the second stage booster firing a few times and the satellite being deployed.

It's cool, and it's obviously the most important part of the mission, but it's not the exciting stuff.

Looks like I'm missing a lot more than that now... Dang.

 

[Jezbollah]

Scrub for today.

Re-Do for tomorrow, same launch window.

 

[Hoo-doo]

So that's it for today?

I'll see you all tomorrow then.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Damn, scrubbed for today

 

[Smiles and Cries]

wow that was a fast scrub guess I'll tune in tomorrow

 

[Jezbollah]

1hr to today's launch attempt. Fuelling has started.

 

[Jezbollah]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzQpkQ1etdA

Webcast & SpaceX FM has started!

 

[Koshiro]

Alright I'm back again. Launch damn you, launch!

 

[Hoo-doo]

Okay, checking back in. Let's do this thing.

 

[Clydefrog]

10 min countdown

 

[Hoo-doo]

Watching this stuff makes me so damn giddy. I remember watching the last journey of the Space Shuttle live a few years ago and it gave me shivers. It's so awesome.

T-Minus 4 minutes!

 

[Tacitus_]

Liftoff

 

[Par Score]

That's one hell of a tracking shot, give that camera dude a raise.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

God, I managed to tune in with six seconds to go.

That was cool.

 

[Hoo-doo]

The gravity turn is where I always fuck up in Kerbal Space Program.

 

[Clydefrog]

David Bowie - Life on Mars literally just came on

edit: this shit is incredible

 

[Par Score]

Wow what a shot, clear as fuck skies today, this might be the best view we've ever had of the flip.

 

[F!ReW!Re]

Wow, that separation footage and seeing the first stage make that "turn" was fucking epic!

 

[Jezbollah]

This is the first time we've had Stage 1 telemetry.

 

[Last_colossi]

It's re-orientation looks so damn cool.

 

[Koshiro]

It's great to follow the first stage all the way back.

 

[Razorback]

Man those globalists can even fake footage of the earth being round live? Good attempt but ya can't fool me.

 

[Jezbollah]

Look that at that downwards acceleration!

 

[Hoo-doo]

Fucking awesome.

 

[F!ReW!Re]

Amazing footage. Love seeing those boosters/stabilisers shoot from the first stage

 

[Jezbollah]

That was amazing.

 

[Last_colossi]

that was impressive.

 

[Par Score]

Easy mode.

Another hell of a ride SpaceX

 

[chadskin]

Incredible.

 

[Tacitus_]

Never gets less awesome to watch this.

 

[Clydefrog]

that was the cleanest fucking footage ever

AMAZING

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Amazing stuff. They did it again.

 

[SonnyBoy]

Just... wow. It never gets old.

 

[Animekatt]

Just watched the launch outside in the backyard. I'm 52 miles away from the Cape.