World News Update: SpaceX launches NROL-97 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida; side boosters land on LZ-1 and LZ-2

Launch: Falcon Heavy NROL-97 (after liftoff)

Rocket

SpaceX Falcon Heavy

Launch site

Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A), NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Time (CT)

Liftoff at 10:54 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (T-0 10:54 p.m. CT / 11:54 p.m. ET / 03:54 UTC Friday). Side boosters landed at LZ-1 and LZ-2 at about 11:02 p.m. CT (T+07:47 on the SpaceX mission timeline).

Result

Launch Successful (Launch Library 2; National Reconnaissance Office; SpaceX). Side boosters B1072 and B1104 landed successfully at Landing Zone 2 and Landing Zone 1. Center core B1106 was expended (no landing attempt). Launch Library 2 also logged payload deployed.

Cargo

Classified national-security payload; details not released

Booster

Side boosters: B1072 → Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2), fourth flight; B1104 → Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1), second flight (SpaceX: second and fourth flight for the two side boosters; prior missions include GOES-U, Viasat-3 F3, and the Roman Space Telescope). Center core B1106: expended / Atlantic Ocean (Launch Library 2).

Our view Another step toward Mars: landing Falcon Heavy’s side boosters on LZ-1 and LZ-2 after a high-energy national-security flight keeps heavy-lift reuse on the same industrial cadence SpaceX needs for Starship missions that will eventually carry people to Mars.

SpaceX’s mission page says Falcon Heavy lifted off from LC-39A at 11:54 p.m. ET Oct. 1 and that the side boosters landed on LZ-1 and LZ-2; the SpaceX timeline lists side-booster landing at T+07:47. The National Reconnaissance Office said NROL-97 successfully launched Oct. 1, 2026, from LC-39A — the NRO’s first Falcon Heavy flight. Launch Library 2 records status Launch Successful with B1072 at LZ-2 and B1104 at LZ-1, and center core B1106 expended.

Before liftoff: our earlier World News Update on NROL-97

World news since the Kennedy night window

• Trump floats Iran link to Flydubai cockpit attack; vows hard strike if confirmed President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran may be linked to the Omani co-pilot accused of trying to crash Israel-bound Flydubai flight FZ1073, and that Tehran would be hit “very hard” if that link is confirmed, the Associated Press reported. Trump offered no details on the suspected connection; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox it was “too early to say” on Iranian involvement while investigators work. (Associated Press, Fox News)
• UAE opens terrorism probe after Flydubai cockpit attack; Saudi transfers suspect The United Arab Emirates opened an investigation into whether the Flydubai cockpit attack was linked to any terrorist purpose, Deutsche Welle reported, after Saudi Arabia said the co-pilot was transferred to the UAE with an Emirati security team. The jet had made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew helped regain control. (Deutsche Welle, CBS News)
• Pakistan–Afghanistan airstrike dispute continues after Helmand and Kunar strikes Afghanistan said Pakistani airstrikes hit Kunar and Helmand and left civilians dead, while Pakistan said it carried out planned strikes on militant camps based on credible intelligence, Al Jazeera reported, citing Reuters and official statements. The dispute continues a cycle of cross-border strikes after earlier fighting and a fragile truce earlier in 2026. (Al Jazeera)