SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches classified NRO payload

SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon Heavy rocket on October 2, 2026, carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Designated as mission NROL-97, this flight marks the first time the NRO has utilized the Falcon Heavy for its operations.

The launch took place at 5:54 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. While the specific details regarding the payload, the number of satellites, and the target orbit remain undisclosed due to the mission's classified nature, the use of the Falcon Heavy suggests a requirement for heavy lifting or high-energy orbital delivery.

This mission was conducted under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 contract. The flight also demonstrated hardware reuse, as SpaceX utilized both side boosters and halves of the fairing recovered from a previous mission. The two side boosters successfully landed at designated zones following separation.