SpaceX has transported the Falcon Heavy rocket to launch pad LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The vehicle is prepared for the classified NROL-97 mission, which is being conducted for the US National Reconnaissance Office and the US Space Force.
The launch is scheduled for October 1, 2026, at 23:53 Eastern Time. Following the deployment of the payload, the rocket's side boosters are expected to return to Earth and land at designated sites LZ-1 and LZ-2.
The mission utilizes flight-proven hardware, with one side booster embarking on its fourth flight and the other on its second. Since its debut in 2018, the Falcon Heavy has successfully completed 13 orbital missions without any loss of payload.
