SpaceX Falcon 9 ready for Sunday’s classified US Department of Defense launch mission

Earlier today, we reported that SpaceX was set to launch its first ever spy satellite into orbit as part of the NROL-76 launch mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, a classified agency within the US Department of Defense. The Elon Musk-led space company confirmed via Twitter shortly after noon time Pacific (19:35 GMT) that it has successfully completed a static fire testing of its Falcon 9 rocket ahead of this Sunday’s April 30th launch.

Though most of the details for the launch are classified, we know that SpaceX is set to deliver a classified payload, said to be a spy satellite for the government agency, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, April 30. This is arguably one of SpaceX’s most important missions to date, as previous NROL missions have been carried out by the United Launch Alliance. A successful mission will effectively open up new business in the form of large national security government contracts.

Static fire test complete. Targeting Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76 on Sunday, April 30. pic.twitter.com/mk0dQGj17o

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 25, 2017

Today’s static fire test is standard pre-launch protocol wherein Falcon 9’s two-stage rocket is filled with super-chilled, densified kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants roughly 70 minutes before the rockets are fired to simulate launch day conditions. Hold-down restraints kept the Falcon 9 booster in place on Launchpad 39A during the hotfire test.

Sunday’s mission will be SpaceX’s 33rd launch of its Falcon 9 rocket since 2010, and the fifth spaceflight this year.

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