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Overnight liftoff from Cape Canaveral on NROL-95 mission and sonic boom
Florida Today • • science
Key Points:
- SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the classified NROL-95 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 3:10 a.m. on July 30, 2026.
- The rocket followed a northeast trajectory, and the first-stage booster landed safely at Cape Canaveral Landing Zone 2 about eight minutes after liftoff, producing a sonic boom heard across Brevard County.
- This mission marked the first National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launch from Cape Canaveral in 2026 and the fourth NRO mission overall this year, with collaboration from the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command.
- The Falcon 9 booster used for this flight was making its seventh trip, having previously supported missions including Amazon KF-01, IMAP, and several others.
- Weather conditions were favorable with a 70% chance of good weather, allowing for clear skies and good visibility of the launch and booster return.
