SpaceXFalcon HeavyLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

NROL-97

Name: NROL-97 launch
Start: 2026-10-02T03:54:00.000Z
End: 2026-10-02T04:42:00.000Z
Location: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Launched

October 2, 2026 · 03:54 UTC

Launch SuccessfulWeather 90% go

Summary

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully delivered a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload into its target orbit on the NROL-97 mission.

Watch: SpaceX NROL-97The Space Devs
SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agencySpaceflight Now
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launches NROL-97NASASpaceflight
Vehicle: Falcon Heavy · SpaceX
Booster: B1106 · flight 1 · expendable38/42 landed here
B1104 · flight 2 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 1 · landed54/55 landed here · 32 days after its previous flight, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope · 15 km downrange
B1072 · flight 4 · Return to Launch Site at Landing Zone 2 · landed20/20 landed here · 32 days after its previous flight, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope · 15 km downrange
Mission: Government/Top Secret · Unknown (N/A)for NRO
Milestone: 14th Falcon Heavy flight · 3rd this yearSpaceX's 735th launch116th this yearhumanity's 7,409th orbital launch attempt236th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Simulate in Flight Club

Orbit: representative

157°Launch azimuth

Target from padside's flight model. Not a catalogued object; this panel switches to the tracked orbit once the object is catalogued. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Flight timeline

25 steps, T−53 min to T+7 min 47 s

T−53MGO for Prop Load
T−50MStage 1 Propellant Load
T−45MStage 1 LOX Load
T−35MStage 2 Propellant Load
T−18M30SStage 2 LOX Load
T−7MEngine Chill
T−59SStartup
T−45SGO for Launch
T−20STank Press
T−6SIgnition
T−0Liftoff
T+1M9SMax-Q
T+2M24SSBECO
T+2M27SBoosters Separation
T+2M31SBoosters Flip
T+2M42SBoosters Boostback Burn Startup
T+3M47SBoosters Boostback Burn Shutdown
T+3M51SMECO
T+3M54SStage 2 Separation
T+4MSES-1
T+4M17SFairing Separation
T+6M29SBoosters Entry Burn Startup
T+6M37SBoosters Entry Burn Shutdown
T+7M30SBoosters Landing Burn
T+7M47SBoosters Landing

About this launch

NROL-97 launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on October 2, 2026 at 03:54 UTC. The launch window ran from 03:53 to 04:42 UTC. It was SpaceX's 735th launch, 116th this year and humanity's 7,409th orbital launch attempt. It was the 14th Falcon Heavy flight and the 3rd this year. Booster B1106 flew for the 1st time and was expended. Booster B1104 flew for the 2nd time and landed at Landing Zone 1. Booster B1072 flew for the 4th time and landed at Landing Zone 2. The payload was bound for Unknown (N/A).

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.

Official page: SpaceX

News

3 stories

Airspace and maritime notices

20 notices filed by the FAA and the US Coast Guard

FAA temporary flight restriction · 16 notices · Expired · up to 18,000 ftMatched by proximity to the pad
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261001 FCS SpaceX NASA X4009
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- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261001 FCS SpaceX X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261001 FCS SpaceX X4009 ZMA
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX NROL97
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Thursday, October 1, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX NROL97 ZMA
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- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX NASA X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX NASA X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261002 FCS SpaceX X4009 ZMA
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261003 FCS SpaceX NROL97
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- Cape Canaveral, FL, Friday, October 2, 2026 Local — 261003 FCS SpaceX NROL97 ZMA
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Saturday, October 3, 2026 Local — 261003 FCS SpaceX NASA X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Saturday, October 3, 2026 Local — 261003 SpaceX NASA X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Saturday, October 3, 2026 Local — 261003 FCS SpaceX X4009
  Source
- Cape Canaveral, FL, Saturday, October 3, 2026 Local — 261003 FCS SpaceX X4009 ZMA
  Source
US Coast Guard marine safety information · 3 notices · ExpiredMatched by mission designator
- Sector Jacksonville, Territorial Sea - Sector Jacksonville, Submerged Land Act (SLA)/Space Operations/Security Zone/Government Supported (Security)
  Source
- District 7, Oceanic boundary to EEZ - Sector Charleston, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/Space Operations/Hazardous Warning Area/Government Supported (Hazardous)
  Source
- Sector Jacksonville, Territorial Sea - Sector Jacksonville, Submerged Land Act (SLA)/Space Operations/Hazardous Warning Area/Government Supported (Hazardous)
  Source
Sector Jacksonville, Territorial Sea - Sector Jacksonville, Submerged Land Act (SLA)/Space Operations/Active RNA/Government Supported (RNA) · Expired · standing regulated area
Matched by mission designator · Source

Pad

Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

224th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 3rd this year · 283rd from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Local pad time at liftoff: Oct 1, 11:54 PM EDT, at night

224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

32 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA Open in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Oct 2, 2026 · source

Show 9 earlier updates

Payload deployed.
Cosmic_Penguin · 10/2/2026 · source
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 10/2/2026 · source
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
LL2 · 10/2/2026 · source
Tweaked T-0.
Cosmic_Penguin · 10/2/2026 · source
Updated launch weather, 80% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 10/2/2026 · source
Updated launch weather, 60% GO.
Cosmic_Penguin · 9/30/2026 · source
GO for launch.
Cosmic_Penguin · 9/24/2026 · source
NET early fall 2026 (launch identity per https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=55784.msg2715269#msg2715269; booster assignments per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5OJk1FuEKg).
Cosmic_Penguin · 9/8/2026 · source
Updated launch vehicle configuration.
Cosmic_Penguin · 4/10/2025 · source

Questions

When did NROL-97 launch?

NROL-97 launched on October 2, 2026 at 03:54 UTC. The launch window ran from 03:53 to 04:42 UTC.

Where can I watch NROL-97?

Coverage: SpaceX NROL-97; SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agency; SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launches NROL-97. Watch the replay

What rocket launched NROL-97?

Falcon Heavy, flown by SpaceX. Falcon Heavy spec sheet

Where did NROL-97 launch from?

Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. Liftoff was Oct 1, 11:54 PM EDT local time at the pad.

Did the booster land?

Booster B1106 flew for the 1st time and was expended. Booster B1104 flew for the 2nd time and landed at Landing Zone 1. Booster B1072 flew for the 4th time and landed at Landing Zone 2.

What orbit was NROL-97 going to?

Unknown (N/A), a government/top secret mission.