SpaceX is set to launch a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, July 30, at 3:09 a.m. The NROL-95 mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket, with the first-stage booster scheduled to land at Landing Zone 2. The nighttime landing may generate a sonic boom audible to residents in nearby areas. A backup launch window is available at 2:55 a.m. on Friday, July 31, if weather conditions interfere.
The launch will take place from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, a site frequently used for national security missions. SpaceX has conducted two prior NRO missions under a National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract awarded in August 2020. The last NRO launch from the Space Coast was the December 2025 NROL-77 mission. This flight will be the third NRO payload delivered by SpaceX under the same contract, according to the company.
The mission’s early morning timing means the booster landing will occur in darkness, potentially offering a visible spectacle for observers at the Space Force Station. However, the sonic boom—created by the rocket’s supersonic descent—could be felt by communities within a 20-mile radius. SpaceX has not specified the exact time the boom might be heard, but past launches have shown it can be heard as far as 30 miles away depending on atmospheric conditions.
Residents are advised to stay indoors during the landing window, which is expected to occur shortly after liftoff. The FLORIDA TODAY Space Team will provide live updates starting 90 minutes before the scheduled launch at FloridaToday.com/Space. This mission continues SpaceX’s role in supporting U.S. intelligence operations, with the company handling multiple classified payloads under the NSSL program.