SpaceX launches secret US spy satellite from Florida (video)

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Thursday morning. The mission, designated NROL-95, carried a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office into orbit. Liftoff occurred at 3:10 a.m. EDT. This flight marks the fourth NRO mission of 2026. While the agency provided the mission patch featuring a ferret, officials released no details regarding the satellite's specific capabilities or objectives.

The Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth approximately eight and a half minutes after launch. This landing at Cape Canaveral marked the seventh flight for this particular booster. Following the successful separation and deployment of the payload, SpaceX ended its broadcast of the mission per the agency's requirements.

The NRO continues to expand its orbital presence through a proliferated architecture consisting of numerous smaller, cost-efficient satellites. Previous launches this year, including NROL-105, NROL-172, and NROL-179, originated from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. NROL-95 stands as a continuation of this broader push to increase reconnaissance capabilities in low Earth orbit.

SpaceX and the NRO maintain strict operational security protocols for these reconnaissance flights. The mission emblem includes the phrase We are the Champions, which the NRO stated reflects the pride and camaraderie of the teams involved in the operation. With this launch complete, the booster is available for inspection and potential refurbishment for future flight assignments.