Falcon Heavy | NROL-97
Pad: Launch Complex 39A · Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.
Falcon Heavy Clearing Launch Tower 39A
Photo: NASA / Joel Kowsky
Falcon Heavy | NROL-97 Live Coverage
Official Webcast Feed Scheduled
Live broadcast embeds typically go live 15 to 20 minutes prior to launch window liftoff. Check the official SpaceX channels or Spaceflight Now for live feeds.
🛰️ Mission Orbital & Environment Matrix
- Target Orbit
- N/A
- Target Altitude
- 550 km
- Inclination
- 53.2°
- Weather Violation Risk
- 10%
- Primary Payload
- NROL-97
- Launch Window
- Friday, October 2, 2026 at 03:53 AM UTC – 04:42 AM UTC
♻️ Hardware Reusability & Recovery Matrix
- Booster Core
- B1106
- Flight Count
- Operational Flight
- Recovery Strategy
- Autonomous Drone Ship (ASDS)
- Fairing Recovery
- New Fairing Shroud
- Landing Vessel / Zone
- Designated Drone Ship (ASDS)
- Vehicle Architecture
- Falcon Heavy Technical Specs & Flight Geometry →
⏱️ Operational Timeline Milestones & Staging Sequence
Target T-0: 2026-10-02Terminal Count
T-00:15:00Autonomous launch sequence start
Auto Sequence
T-00:03:00Flight computer assumes control
Liftoff
T-00:00:00Stage 1 main engine ignition & liftoff
MECO & Stage Sep
T+00:02:40Main engine cut-off and stage separation
Stage 1 Landing
T+00:08:30Booster touchdown on recovery vessel / zone
Payload Deploy
T+00:45:00Spacecraft insertion into target orbit
Launch Complex 39A
Kennedy Space Center (NASA) · Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Historic Pad 39A Fixed Service Tower
Daylight view of Launch Complex 39A Fixed Service Structure equipped with the Crew Access Arm and Falcon 9 vertical on the launch mount.
Photo Credit: NASA / Joel KowskyThe world's most historic orbital pad, LC-39A hosted the Apollo 11 moon mission and the first Space Shuttle flight (STS-1). Leased by SpaceX in 2014, it supports crewed commercial flights to the ISS, Falcon Heavy heavy-lift launches, and future orbital missions.