flown by SpaceX USA

NROL-97

Success
OCT 02202603:53:00 UTC

Falcon Heavy carried a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the first NRO mission to fly on the vehicle after 22 prior NRO launches on Falcon 9. It was also the first NRO flight procured under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 contract.

launched from LC-39A Kennedy

aboard Falcon Heavy B5 into Unknown

Broadcast

Watch how the launch went

Boosters · 3

  • 01 Booster 1 B1104.2
    side Landed on ground pad · LZ-1
  • 02 Booster 2 B1106
    core no recovery attempt
  • 03 Booster 3 B1072.4
    side Landed on ground pad · LZ-2

Payload

NROL-97

Reconnaissance

last updated Oct 4, 2026