| 100% | HHOUR | 5 | Time set to launch a mission, in U.S. military: Hyph. |
| 38% | SATURNFIVE | 10 | NASA's only rocket ever to launch humans beyond a low-earth orbit, used in every Apollo mission |
| 37% | RAINYDAY | 8 | Time to set aside money for, in a saying |
| 37% | BOXINGDAY | 9 | Present time in England? ... or a hint to each set of circled squares |
| 37% | SPACEFORCE | 10 | Branch of the U.S. military launched in 2019 |
| 36% | CURFEW | 6 | Time set to be indoors, during military emergencies |
| 36% | HST | 3 | First U.S. pres. to travel in a submarine |
| 35% | TARES | 5 | Sets to zero, in a way |
| 35% | JOYDIVISION | 11 | “Love Will Tear Us Apart” band . . . and a hint to each set of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 34% | AHA | 3 | First Norwegian band to have a #1 hit in the US: Hyph. |
| 34% | ELSEWHERE | 9 | St. __, 80's US drama set in a Boston hospital |
| 34% | UPON | 4 | "Once ___ a Time in Mexico" (sequel to Robert Rodriguez's "Desperado") |
| 33% | FLYLIKEANEAGLE | 14 | What the U.S. Postal Service used to do (ending in a two under) |
| 33% | AURA | 4 | US satellite launched in 2004 to study Earth's ozone layer, air quality and climate |
| 33% | MCCAFE | 6 | Place to get a brew in more than 11,000 U.S. locations |
| 33% | PIGOUT | 6 | To eat a lot in short period of time |
| 33% | BLACKWELL | 9 | Elizabeth __, first woman in US to become a doctor |
| 33% | TASKFORCE | 9 | Military unit assigned to a particular mission |
| 32% | DREW | 4 | Set pencil to paper, in a way |
| 32% | TARE | 4 | Set back to zero, in a way |
| 32% | ROMANTELESCOPE | 14 | NASA project set to launch in 2027, named for the former chief of astronomy |
| 32% | LEGO | 4 | Building toy brand that's set to "star" in a 2014 film |
| 32% | TENT | 4 | Set up to sleep in near a campfire |
| 32% | CHEERS | 6 | US television sitcom set in a Boston bar |
| 32% | ONCE | 4 | ___ in a while (from time to time) |
| 32% | UFOS | 4 | In 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense established a group to examine them (abbr.) |
| 32% | LAY | 3 | To set in position, for use, as a road |
| 32% | CONFIGURE | 9 | To set up for operation in a particular way |
| 32% | DAWN | 4 | Start time for many a military mission |
| 31% | CHAPLAIN | 8 | Priest in a prison or military setting |