Launch SuccessfulSpaceX

Falcon Heavy: NROL-97

Name: Falcon Heavy: NROL-97
Start: 2026-10-02T03:54:00Z
End: 2026-10-02T04:42:00Z
Location: Launch Complex 39A

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.

Friday, 2 October 202603:54 UTC

Mission Data

🇺🇸SpaceXEst. 2002

Launch VehicleFalcon Heavy

Vehicle FamilyFalcon

Vehicle Record14 of 14 launches (100%)

Provider TypeCommercial

Agency Record728 successes / 15 failures (98%)

Success Streak228 consecutive

Mission TypeGovernment/Top Secret

Launch PadLaunch Complex 39A

Location🇺🇸 Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA USA

Orbital Launches This Year#236

Agency Launches This Year#116

Launches From This Pad224

Launches From This Site283

Status Note

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

About Falcon Heavy

The Falcon Heavy is a variant of the Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle and consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, with two additional boosters derived from the Falcon 9 first stage.

Launch updates

2 Oct 2026, 07:13 UTC
Launch success.
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2 Oct 2026, 07:10 UTC
Payload deployed.
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2 Oct 2026, 03:54 UTC
Liftoff.
2 Oct 2026, 03:49 UTC
Unofficial Re-stream by SPACE AFFAIRS has started
2 Oct 2026, 02:20 UTC
Tweaked T-0.
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2 Oct 2026, 02:04 UTC
Updated launch weather, 80% GO.
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30 Sept 2026, 15:23 UTC
Updated launch weather, 60% GO.
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24 Sept 2026, 14:39 UTC
GO for launch.
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8 Sept 2026, 16:00 UTC
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).
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10 Apr 2025, 06:12 UTC
Updated launch vehicle configuration.
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Launch Site

Launch Complex 39A · 28.6082°N 80.6043°W

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.