Secrecy Takes Flight!

Kennedy Space Center, FL. – Secrecy takes flight! At 11:50 PM EDT on August 21, 2025, SpaceX launched the secret USSF- 36 Mission for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.

While most of the mission is not known, one of the features of this flight are to test a new GPS sensor as well as a laser based communication system. Other experiments are not fully known.

The X-37B “mini shuttle” is a versatile craft that can stay in orbit for months and years, the duration of this mission like most of this mission is not known. This is the eighth flight for this mysterious craft. Once the mission is complete, it is likely to land at the Launch and Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center.

In a statement from Falcon Systems and Operations: “Our One Falcon Team did a superb job executing our independent mission assurance responsibilities faster, at the same level of confidence, and in parallel with preparations for our next mission,” said Dr. Walt Lauderdale, chief of Falcon Systems and Operations, and mission director for the USSF-36 launch. “Our excellent relationship with our launch service provider and our deep understanding of this launch system make us more efficient and the result will be the throughput required to satisfy growing national needs.”

Image Credit:  Michael Seeley - We Report Space

Shortly after launch, the Falcon 9 first stage booster made a successful landing at Cape Canaveral S.F.S. Landing Zone 2. This landing shook the area and woke a few folks up at midnight to the sonic booms announcing the boosters return.

Image Credit:  Graham Smith - We Report Space

Story By: Michael Howard – We Report Space

Flight Images by: Michael Seeley and Graham Smith – We Report Space

Static Image are by Hand-Out