SpaceX rolls out Falcon Heavy for NROL-97 mission

SpaceX has rolled out its Falcon Heavy rocket to Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the NROL-97 mission. The launch is currently targeted for Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 11:53 p.m. ET, with a backup window scheduled for October 2.

NROL-97 is a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in partnership with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command. This mission marks the first time the NRO will launch a payload aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. The vehicle features 27 Merlin engine nozzles across its three first-stage cores.

Following stage separation, the two side boosters are expected to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering specialized launch packages for the event, allowing public viewing from the Apollo/Saturn V Center.