World News Update: SpaceX set to launch NROL-97 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida; Trump floats Iran link to Flydubai cockpit attack

Launch: Falcon Heavy NROL-97 (before liftoff)

Rocket

SpaceX Falcon Heavy

Launch site

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

Time (CT)

Targeted for 10:53 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (11:53 p.m. ET / 03:53 UTC Friday). Launch Library 2 window: 03:53–04:42 UTC Friday (~49 minutes). SpaceX lists a backup opportunity Friday, Oct. 2 at 11:48 p.m. ET (10:48 p.m. CT). Status: Go for Launch.

Result

Awaiting liftoff. SpaceX mission page and Launch Library 2 both list the mission as Go.

Cargo

Classified national-security payload; details not released

Booster

Side boosters: B1072 → Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) and B1104 → Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida (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: no landing attempt (expended / ATL per Launch Library 2).

Our view Another step toward Mars: landing and reusing Falcon Heavy’s side boosters on LZ-1 and LZ-2 keeps high-energy national-security flights on the same reuse machine that feeds Starship work aimed at eventually carrying people to Mars.

A live webcast begins about 10 minutes before liftoff on SpaceX’s website and on X (@SpaceX). Mission page: spacex.com/launches/nrol97/. NRO launch page: nro.gov/launches/launch-nrol-97/.

World news since the 5 PM brief

• 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, AP reported. Separately, Trump told Time it was “possible” the U.S. could ramp up bombing of Iran after the Nov. 3 midterms and that he had rejected Iran’s latest peace offer as not good enough, Fox News and Politico reported. (Associated Press, Fox News, Politico)
• UAE opens terrorism probe after Flydubai cockpit attack; Saudi transfers suspect The UAE’s chief prosecutor ordered an investigation into Wednesday’s alleged cockpit attack on Flydubai FZ1073 (Dubai to Tel Aviv), seeking to determine whether it was linked to terrorist activity or prior planning, Deutsche Welle reported citing WAM. Saudi Arabia transferred the suspected Omani co-pilot and the wounded Indian captain to Abu Dhabi Thursday. (Deutsche Welle, CBS News)
• Saudi-led coalition says Houthis attacked Medina power station The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthis said Thursday that the Iran-aligned group attacked a Medina power distribution station this week, putting one transformer out of service without affecting the wider grid; a Houthi source denied it, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
• Earlier Thursday: Crew-13 and Transporter-18 both fly successfully SpaceX lofted NASA’s Crew-13 from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral at 10:10 a.m. CT (B1101 → LZ-40) and later lofted Transporter-18 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg at 1:32 p.m. CT (B1082 → LZ-4) with 130 smallsat rideshare payloads. (NASA, World Brief Now, NASASpaceFlight)

Earlier: the full 5 PM Evening Update

Transporter-18 after-liftoff update

Crew-13 after-liftoff update