SpaceX plans to send a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office into orbit aboard its Falcon Heavy rocket, according to Space. The mission, designated NROL-97, is scheduled to launch during the night from Florida.
The NRO, the US agency responsible for building and operating the country's intelligence satellites, is the customer for the flight. Because the payload is secret, few technical details about the spacecraft or its final orbit have been released.
Aviation Week reports that the mission involves two firsts for the NRO, though the outlet's summary does not specify what those are. SpaceX also lists the flight under the NROL-97 mission name.
The launch window falls late at night, and the Bradenton Herald notes that skywatchers in parts of southwest Florida, including the Naples and Fort Myers areas, may be able to see the rocket streak across the sky depending on conditions. Spectrum News 13 also reports that SpaceX is flying a top-secret mission for the NRO.
Viewers who want to follow the flight can watch it live, with Space among the outlets carrying coverage of the launch.
What to watch next: whether the Falcon Heavy lifts off on schedule and whether the booster landing and ascent are visible from the Florida coast.
