On February 2 at 20:27 UTC, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the NROL-87 mission into orbit from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

As is typical for NRO launches, no details about the payload were disclosed, and after first stage separation, the webcast switched to exclusively following the first stage as it completed its boost back, reentry, and landing burns to do a Return To Launch Site landing just under 400 meters from the launch pad it had departed eight minutes earlier. The lack of second-stage coverage permitted the first stage’s entire trip to be shown, to space and back, uninterrupted and without the usual cutout at touchdown since the pad was on land. After the stage was safely landed, the SpaceX commentator signed off and the webcast ended.

We can’t cover an NRO launch without talking about the patch for the mission, as they’re always unique and sometimes slightly terrifying. NROL-87’s patch features a mountain goat on a peak with mountains and a starfield in the background. The NRO described the mountain goat’s symbolism as “standing proud atop a mountain peak remaining watchfully alert.”

More Information

NROL-87 mission page (SpaceX)

Launch video