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SpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-87 launch
Vandenberg SLC4E : February 2, 2022

Falcon 9 NROL-87 launch carrying a classified payload for the NRO.

View from an altitude of 8500'.

This was the 1st flight of B1071, and the 4th booster RTLS at LZ-4.

Reported weather: KVBG 021958Z 01007G18KT 10SM SKC 16/M08 A3007 ; KLPC 021956Z AUTO 01011G16KT 10SM CLR 17/M08 A3007

Launch time approximately 20:27:26 UTC. Image times approximate.

OCISLY not needed today...

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20:26:22Z (L-01:04)

20:27:17Z (L-00:09)

20:27:28Z (L+00:02)

20:27:29Z (L+00:03)

20:27:32Z (L+00:06)

20:27:33Z (L+00:07)

20:27:36Z (L+00:10)

20:27:38Z (L+00:12)

20:27:46Z (L+00:20)

20:27:52Z (L+00:26) Can't quite see the goat on the logo...

20:27:58Z (L+00:32)

20:28:14Z (L+00:48)

20:28:38Z (L+01:12)

20:28:47Z (L+01:21)

20:29:12Z (L+01:46)

20:29:27Z (L+02:01)

20:29:43Z (L+02:17)

20:29:47Z (L+02:21) MECO

20:29:52Z (L+02:26) Staging

20:29:52Z (L+02:26)

20:30:01Z (L+02:35) SES-1 and Boostback burn

20:30:01Z (L+02:35) Some plume interactions

20:30:01Z (L+02:35)

20:30:01Z (L+02:35)

20:30:02Z (L+02:36)

20:30:02Z (L+02:36)

20:30:03Z (L+02:37)

20:30:05Z (L+02:39)

20:30:06Z (L+02:40)

20:30:11Z (L+02:45)

20:30:12Z (L+02:46) Fairing separation, visible next to 2nd stage

20:30:13Z (L+02:47)

20:30:18Z (L+02:52)

20:33:55Z (L+06:29) Entry burn

20:34:07Z (L+06:41)

20:34:15Z (L+06:49)

20:34:18Z (L+06:52)

20:35:19Z (L+07:53) Landing burn

20:35:22Z (L+07:56)

20:35:25Z (L+07:59)

20:35:30Z (L+08:04)

20:35:32Z (L+08:06)

20:35:33Z (L+08:07) Looks like its crabbing into the wind

20:35:34Z (L+08:08)

20:35:35Z (L+08:09)

20:35:36Z (L+08:10)

20:35:39Z (L+08:13)

20:35:51Z (L+08:25)

20:36:07Z (L+08:41)

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N363DC (G300) overtakes me on its way to BUR

Viva 510 (A320) passes 2000 feet above me