SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the classified NROL-95 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral at 3:10 a.m. EDT. The NRO designed, built and will operate the payload, and the live broadcast was limited at the agency's request—second-stage activity and deployment were not shown. The first-stage booster completed its seventh flight and landed successfully. SpaceX reported this was the 88th Falcon launch of the year and the 12th this month, with a 30% weather-related launch risk and a backup opportunity set for Friday.
SpaceX Launches Classified NROL-95 Payload From Cape Canaveral; Falcon 9 Booster Lands
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, like the one seen here, launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., early Thursday with a payload for the national Reconnaissance Office. Photo by Joe Marino/UPI
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Thursday.
The vehicle lifted off at 3:10 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). The mission is designated NROL-95, and public details remain limited: the NRO designed, built and will operate the payload.
Restricted Broadcast
SpaceX said the live broadcast was restricted at the NRO's request. As a result, activity involving the Falcon 9 second stage and the actual deployment of the payload were omitted from the public feed.
Booster Recovery and Flight Count
The rocket's first-stage booster, making its seventh flight, returned to Earth and landed successfully at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
According to SpaceX, this marked the 88th Falcon launch of the year and the 12th Falcon launch this month, underscoring the company's high launch cadence.
Weather And Scheduling
Weather forecasters had forecast a 30% chance of weather-related constraints for the launch window. A backup opportunity was scheduled for Friday.
While mission specifics remain classified, the successful booster recovery and on-schedule liftoff reflect SpaceX's continued operational tempo for national security launches.
Help us improve.
