SpaceX’s midnight spy satellite launch quietly set a new record
SpaceX completed a tripleheader of orbital missions by launching a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload from Florida. The midnight liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center shook the Space Coast with sonic booms and marked the first time the heavy-lift vehicle flew a mission for the U.S. spy satellite agency. Following the launch, the rocket's two side boosters successfully landed, sealing a record four landings in a single day for the company after completing three separate orbital flights.
Listen to Live Briefing
Real-time synthesized voice briefing · Live Feeds Desk
- ✓ A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched a classified mission codenamed NROL-97 for the National Reconnaissance Office.
- ✓ The mission blasted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
- ✓ The launch took place at 11:54 p.m. EDT.
- ✓ SpaceX landed its two side boosters, sealing a record four landings in one day.
What changed
SpaceX executed its first Falcon Heavy mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, sealing a single-day landing record.
Live updates
-
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launches NROL-97 and Sets Landing Record
SpaceX completed a tripleheader of orbital missions by launching a Falcon Heavy rocket carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload from Florida. The midnight liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center shook the Space Coast with sonic booms and marked the first time the heavy-lift vehicle flew a mission for the U.S. spy satellite agency. Following the launch, the rocket's two side boosters successfully landed, sealing a record four landings in a single day for the company after completing three separate orbital flights.
Why it matters
The National Reconnaissance Office has previously flown payloads on standard Falcon 9 rockets, making this heavy-lift flight a shift in national security space operations. Falcon Heavy consists of three Falcon 9 boosters and an upper stage topped by a payload fairing. The launch capped off a marathon day of three separate orbital missions for SpaceX.
What is confirmed
- A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched a classified mission codenamed NROL-97 for the National Reconnaissance Office.
- The mission blasted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
- The launch took place at 11:54 p.m. EDT.
- SpaceX landed its two side boosters, sealing a record four landings in one day.
What to watch next
- Further integration of Falcon Heavy rockets for future National Reconnaissance Office missions
- Additional multi-launch days by SpaceX to test orbital cadence limits
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (16)
- www.teslarati.com — Tesla says fixes on Full Self-Driving’s two biggest issues are on the way
- Teslarati — SpaceX’s midnight spy satellite launch quietly set a new record
- Space — 3 for 3! Falcon Heavy rocket launches secret US spy mission to complete SpaceX tripleheader (video)
- Florida Today — SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches NROL-97 mission at NASA's Kennedy Space Center
- FOX 35 Orlando — Falcon Heavy launch shakes Space Coast with sonic booms
- Spaceflight Now — Falcon Heavy flies its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agency
- freemetadata.com — SpaceX Sets New Launch Record With Classified Spy Satellite
- interestingengineering.com — SpaceX pulls off single-day hat-trick launches in less than ...
- www.teslarati.com — SpaceX's midnight spy satellite launch quietly set a new record
- beforeitsnews.com — Everyone Has Stopped Buying Used Cars! CARMAX Sounds the Alarm! (Video) | Motor Junkies | Before It's New....
- beforeitsnews.com — Car Dealers Are Now Refusing to Fix Your Old Car! (Video) | Motor Junkies | Before It's News
- interestingengineering.com — SpaceX smashes US record as astronauts reach ISS in just 7 hours and 55 minutes
Community Sentiment: How do you assess this situation?
Voice your perspective · Real-time aggregated sentiment from the Live Feeds community